Red Sox shortstop 'selling' Nolan Arenado on the idea of waiving no-trade clause
The Nolan Arenado trade rumors to the Red Sox continue to swirl following Sunday night’s report from MassLive’s Chris Cotillo and Sean McAdam reporting Boston is “a preferred destination” for the All-Star third baseman.
Boston is a “preferred destination”—if” not “the preferred destination”—for” the Arenado. 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.
It also now looks like the Red Sox are pulling out of the Alex Bregman sweepstakes, according to MLB.com’s John Denton.
The report from Denton also indicates the Red Sox could be looking for the Cardinals to eat a sizable amount of Arenado’s money while also trading first baseman Triston Casas in a separate deal.
If the Red Sox add Arenado in a deal, he would be reunited with former Rockies teammate Trevor Story, who has been selling the veteran infielder on the idea of playing for Boston.
Story and Arenado were teammates playing at Coors Field from 2016 to 2020. Arenado was traded to St. Louis prior to the 2021 season. The current Red Sox shortstop was close to Arenado during their time in Colorado and credits him with helping him become a better hitter at the plate.
“Being around Nolan for two years and talking a lot of ball… he was my locker mate, so we were always around each other,” Story said in an interview with FanGraphs back in 2022. “Over time, I was getting little things from him on his approach and what he was trying to do. And it takes some uncomfortability to try things—getting out of your comfort zone and going out there, not being afraid to look stupid. It’s amazing some of the things that you can accomplish when you take that fear of failure out of it, when you’re not scared of looking silly.”
Arenado hit .272 with a .719 OPS, 16 home runs, 71 RBI, and two stolen bases in 152 games for St. Louis last season. 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.
The Casas trade rumors are nothing new and have dated back to the end of the regular season when The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal first floated the idea he could be available this offseason. Boston has attempted to trade Casas to the Mariners along with Masataka Yoshida during the Winter Meetings for Luis Castillo, but that deal fell through. Cotillo and McAdam reported on Monday night that industry belief is the young slugger is still available in trade talks.
