Red Sox ‘a preferred destination’ in trade talks for Cardinals' Nolan Arenado (report)

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The Red Sox have made it public all offseason that they are in need of a right-handed power bat for the middle of their lineup. One name that has surfaced this winter as a potential trade target has been Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado. While it’s not known whether the Red Sox and Cardinals have talked about an Arenado swap, the veteran reportedly is interested in shipping up to Boston.

According to MassLive’s Sean McAdam and Chris Cotillo, Boston is a “preferred destination”—if” not “the preferred destination”—for” the All-Star.

The 33-year-old has a no-trade clause but reportedly will waive that in a trade to the Red Sox. Arenado already invoked his no-trade clause in December, blocking a trade to the Astros. Arenado has three years and $74 million left on his deal with the Cards that will run through 2027.

The veteran hit .272 with a .719 OPS, 16 home runs, 71 RBI, and two stolen bases in 152 games for St. Louis last season.

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McAdam first connected Arenado to the Red Sox in November.

“Don’t rule out some Red Sox interest in Arenado,” McAdam wrote.

“There’s been some internal talk about moving Devers off third base at some point, and Arenado is viewed as a potential Plan B. The Cardinals, who are watching their payroll carefully, wouldn’t be opposed to moving him if a team is willing to take on most of the remaining money. One potential obstacle: Arenado has a full no-trade clause.”

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. He would provide protection in the lineup around Devers, but the Red Sox would be better served adding another bat in addition to Arenado.

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.

It’s not known if Arenado will move off third base and play first base for the Red Sox or whether Boston will move Devers off the hot corner and begin his career at first base. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow told reporters in December that Devers was the team’s third baseman.

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“Raffy is our third baseman,” Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said to reporters on Monday afternoon. “He’s having a really productive offseason. Saw him a couple of weeks ago. Looks great. Feels great. We’re really optimistic about what we’re going to get out of him. He’s talked about coming to Fort Myers early this year and really focusing on getting himself ready to have a great season.

“With that said, we’ll be open-minded, and we’ll be creative in terms of how we put together the best roster, but as things stand right now, Raffy is our third baseman.”

Breslow has denied the team is shopping Casas, but yet his name continues to surface in reports that he could be available in trades. It was reported the Sox discussed trading Casas to the Mariners for Luis Castillo or Mariners pitchers.

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“I’m not totally sure where it comes from,” Breslow said. “We’re not shopping, Triston. We see him as a guy that can hit in the middle of the lineup for a really long time here in Boston. Obviously, plus power, plus strike zone judgment, the ability to get on base, and it’s someone that I don’t think we’ve seen the best of. He obviously missed a number of months during the season. We’re really excited for him to be completely healthy. He’s had a full, healthy offseason.

“When you have really good young players, I don’t think it’s surprising that other teams would ask about them. But I’ve seen some of the speculation about what deals may or may not have existed or what may or may not have been proposed. And there was nothing that was remotely close. We’re certainly not shopping him.”

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While the Red Sox are not shopping Casas, they’re certainly listening on the first baseman. Boston is about five weeks from when pitchers and catchers will report to Fort Myers, and the Red Sox haven’t finalized their roster. If they add Arenado, it likely means Casas is out, or they got lucky and moved Masataka Yoshida’s money, and they’ll rotate Devers, Casas, and Arenado at designated hitter and in the field next season.

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