Red Sox Reportedly Favorites to Land All-Star Slugger in a Trade
By Jovan Alford
The Boston Red Sox have been quite busy this offseason, upgrading their starting rotation with the acquisition of All-Star pitcher Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox and signing World Series-winning pitcher Walker Buehler to a one-year deal.
Based on these two moves and the other pitchers the Red Sox have in rotation, Boston should have one of the better starting staffs in the American League. However, the Red Sox still need to find a bat after seeing Tyler O’Neill sign with the Baltimore Orioles.
Throughout the offseason, the Red Sox have been connected to Teoscar Hernandez, Anthony Santander, Alex Bregman, and Nolan Arenado.
Hernandez re-signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers on a three-year, $66 million deal. However, Santander, Bregman, and Arenado are still available. If Boston wanted to go after Arenado, it would have to be through a trade.
Red Sox Rumors: Boston Named Preferred Destination for Nolan Arenado
On Sunday, Chris Cotillo and Sean McAdam of MassLive.com reported that the Red Sox are a “preferred destination” for the St. Louis Cardinals third baseman.
The 33-year-old Gold Glove third baseman has a full no-trade clause, which he already used to block a trade to the Houston Astros this offseason.
With the Red Sox already having Rafael Devers at third base, the fit of Arenado doesn’t make sense on paper. However, Boston could look to move Devers to first base and possibly trade Triston Casas, who has been mentioned in various trade rumors.
Devers going to first base would open up third base for Arenado, who has been a stalwart at the hot corner for his entire career. Arenado is coming off an okay 2023 season with the Cardinals, slashing .272/.325/.394 with 16 home runs and 71 RBI.
The 33-year-old right-handed slugger is set to make $21 million in 2025 and won’t become a free agent until 2028. The Cardinals will do their best to try to trade Arenado before Opening Day. It will be interesting to see if St. Louis and Boston can link up on a potential deal, which could make the Sox a threat in the AL East.
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