The Boston Red Sox are reportedly one of the final five teams vying for Alex Bregman, but they are facing competition from the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, Toronto Blue Jays, and Detroit Tigers, all of whom have made offers. If the Red Sox fail to secure Bregman, MLB.com’s John Denton recently suggested that they could turn to St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado as a backup option. Denton reported that trade discussions between the Red Sox and Cardinals regarding Arenado have been ongoing in recent days. Arenado, who posted a .272 batting average, 16 home runs, and 71 RBIs in 2024, has a full no-trade clause and blocked a potential move to the Astros in December.
While the Red Sox are focused on signing Bregman, they are competing with at least two other teams for his services. However, a trade for Arenado could be a more affordable option for Boston. Arenado has $64 million remaining on his contract, and the sticking point in negotiations could be how much of that salary the Cardinals are willing to cover. In early January, trade talks stalled when the Cardinals were unwilling to contribute more than $20 million toward Arenado’s contract.
An Arenado trade might be the perfect solution for the Red Sox. Rather than committing nearly $200 million to Bregman, Boston could acquire a similar player at a significantly lower cost, saving over $150 million. The Red Sox could also afford to part with a prospect from the backend of their top 30 list, such as Blaze Jordan, to complete the trade. Missing out on Bregman could turn into a blessing for Boston if they can pull off a deal for Arenado instead.
