Red Sox, Cardinals have reportedly had ‘recent’ talks on Nolan Arenado trade

Red Sox

Arenado has been one of the best third basemen in the league for a decade, but his production at the plate has dipped.

Pitchers and catchers set to report to Fort Myers in less than two weeks. But even with MLB’s offseason nearing its end, the Red Sox have still yet to add a right-handed bat to their lineup. 

But that could change in the coming days, as MLB’s Network’s Jon Morosi noted on X Tuesday that the Red Sox and Cardinals “have had recent communication about Nolan Arenado”.

Morosi added that “Cardinals exec Chaim Bloom has close knowledge of Boston’s prospects” — given that Bloom served as the Red Sox’s Chief Baseball Officer from 2020-23. 

The Red Sox and Cardinals have had recent communication about Nolan Arenado, source says.

If the trade talks move forward, they could have implications for Alex Bregman’s market.

Of note, Cardinals exec Chaim Bloom has close knowledge of Boston’s prospects.

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) February 4, 2025

The Red Sox have been linked to Arenado multiple times this offseason, with the 33-year-old third baseman holding some appeal to a team like Boston given both his stellar defense and ability to add some right-handed pop at the plate. 

Arenado has been dangled on the trade market this entire winter by St. Louis, with the eight-time All-Star reportedly nixing a trade to the Houston Astros in December. Despite invoking his no-trade clause, Arenado seems more receptive about joining a team like Boston. 

“Boston is a preferred destination — if not the preferred destination — for Arenado, a hot trade candidate who has a full no-trade clause, industry sources said Sunday,” MassLive’s Chris Cotillo and Sean McAdam wrote last month, adding: “If the Red Sox and Cardinals were to match up on value, there would be no hesitation on Arenado’s end to accept the deal.”

While free-agent target Alex Bregman could conceivably move from third base to second if he signs with Boston, Arenado’s arrival would presumably push Rafael Devers to DH or first — considering that Arenado has 10 Gold Gloves on his resume. 

But even if dealing for Arenado shores up Boston’s infield defense, there are questions about Arenado’s bat and whether he’s on a steep decline at the plate. 

Arenado batted .272 with 16 home runs and 71 RBI over 152 games in 2024 — with his WAR dipping from 7.7 in 2022 to 2.4 and 2.5 in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

Even though Arenado has seven 30-home-run seasons in his career, his age and his contract might raise concerns if the Red Sox brought him in.

He is signed for the next three seasons and is on the hook for $64 million, per Cotillo and McAdam — with the Rockies currently paying $5 million off of Arenado’s salary each of the next two years. 

For all of the questions regarding Arenado’s standing as a heart-of-the-order bat in 2025, Red Sox infielder Trevor Story holds the veteran in high regard. 

“I’ve played around him a lot,” Story told reporters at Fenway Fest about Arenado. “He’s as good as it gets. The intensity that he brings to a team is really beneficial. I think he would thrive here. … “There’s no doubt in my mind he’s still that guy. 

“I think it’s easy to look at numbers and kind of make an assumption, but he’s still Nolan Arenado. He’s still a Hall of Fame-type player in my eyes, and I think in a lot of people’s eyes. So, yeah, I’m definitely not following the narrative on that.”

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