One of the biggest storylines of the Boston Red Sox’ offseason has been what they’ll do at third base. Unfortunately, the pursuit of a solution has been complicated.
Alex Bregman’s contract demands seemingly have him considering other options and the Red Sox have pivoted to trade talks with the St. Louis Cardinals to acquire Arenado.
With pitchers and catchers reporting for Spring Training this week, it would seem that a trade would happen soon. But the Red Sox may be the team that’s keeping a trade from happening and it goes back to some penny pinching that has taken place this winter.
Nolan Arenado’s Salary Has Kept the Red Sox From Making A Trade
The Red Sox re-engaged in trade discussions involving Arenado this week. The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier reports that while the parameters of a deal with the St. Louis Cardinals are not complete, Boston has had another hangup regarding the $64 million remaining on the 33-year-old’s contract.
“There are ongoing conversations about how much of the remaining $64 million on Arenado’s contract over the next three years ($74 million in salary, minus $10 million owed by the Rockies) would be covered by St. Louis in a deal whose primary appeal to the Cardinals would be salary relief with modest prospect return.”
Speier goes on to state that Arenado, who used his no-trade clause to veto a deal to the Houston Astros earlier this winter, would accept a trade to Boston. This would allow Arenado to plug in at third base, shift Rafael Devers to first base or designated hitter and plug a right-handed pull hitter into the middle of their lineup.
With minimal prospect cost and a 10-time Gold Glove Award winner involved, this should be an easy trade for both sides to make. But the Red Sox remain committed toward limiting their payroll for next season.
According to FanGraphs, the Red Sox have an estimated 2025 payroll of $171 million – $13 million less than their final 2024 payroll of $184 million. Boston is also $70 million under the luxury tax threshold of $241 million, leaving plenty of room to add Arenado’s $32 million for this season and decreasing salaries of $27 million and $15 million the next two seasons.
But while the Red Sox currently have the means to acquire Arenado, they may have an eye on the future. ESPN’s Jeff Passan noted that the slow market for Bregman and Arenado could be due to players that will hit the market in the next two years.
That list includes Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette, San Diego Padres infielder Luis Arraez, Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Ha-Seong Kim and third baseman Eugenio Suarez next winter. Plus, Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe, Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner, Kansas City Royals second baseman Jonathan India and Seattle Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford could hit the market following the 2026 season.
Despite any future moves, the Red Sox are a team that needs to generate some buzz. Boston has reached the postseason once since winning the World Series in 2018 and has finished in last place of the American League East in three of the past five seasons.
Adding Arenado would be a great first step to change that but it seems like the Red Sox are more concerned about the financials than putting a winning product on the field.