Cardinals’ Nolan Arenado ‘highly, highly motivated’ to join the Red Sox
The Alex Bregman free agent sweepstakes have been exhausting over the last three months. Fans are eager for a resolution on where he will sign ahead of the start of spring training. The Red Sox reportedly remain engaged in talks with Bregman, who is looking for a six- or seven-year deal.
If Bregman decides to play in another market, Boston has a fallback option in Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado. The All-Star has been connected to the Red Sox all offseason, and his former teammate Trevor Story has tried to offer up positives for playing in Boston.
“Everyone knows that we’re pretty close,” said Story to reporters at Fenway Fest in Boston back in January. “Nolan’s one of my good friends. This is a unique opportunity. We talk about baseball a lot. I’ll keep those conversations between us, but we do have a really good third baseman in Raffy Devers, so that would be obviously up to someone else to figure out how it works. That’s not my job to talk about that. But obviously, the chance of that happening is exciting for everyone.
“I’ve played around him a lot. He’s as good as it gets. The intensity he brings is really beneficial. He would thrive at Fenway.”
And according to ESPN’s Buster Olney, Arenado is hoping that deal is made between the Cardinals and Red Sox, shipping him to Boston.
“Given that Nolan Arenado vetoed the potential deal to the Astros, what some of his friends say is important: They think he would really like the idea of going to the Red Sox if Boston and the Cardinals work out terms,” Olney posted to X on Wednesday. “Arenado’s current mindset: ‘Highly, highly motivated.'”
Reports surfaced back in mid-December that Arenado would waive his no-trade clause and accept a trade to the Red Sox. Arenado is an intriguing fit for the Red Sox with the ability to play a Gold Glove third base and give Boston a right-handed power bat for their lineup. The All-Star has three years and $64 million left on his deal that will run through 2027.
The Red Sox have been adamant all offseason that Rafael Devers was the club’s starting third baseman. It’s unclear where Arenado would play if Boston acquired him in a trade.
The 33-year-old hit .272 with a .719 OPS, 16 home runs, 71 RBI, and two stolen bases in 152 games for St. Louis last season. If the Red Sox were to add Arenado, he would help the infield defense immensely.
Arenado has been an excellent defender over his career with 162 career defensive runs saved. He has averaged 13.5 DRS per season, but he posted six defensive runs saved in 1,268 1/3 innings at third base last year and just one in 1,095 2/3 innings in 2023, according to FanGraphs. Offensively, Arenado has not been the same hitter as he’s been in the past. Over the last two seasons, he has a .746 OPS in 296 games versus an .857 OPS through his career.
