The Boston Red Sox have already made some noise this offseason, pulling off trades with the St. Louis Cardinals to bring in veteran right-hander Sonny Gray and catcher-turned-first-baseman Willson Contreras.
Now, with third base potentially opening up, there’s growing chatter that Boston might not be done dealing with St. Louis just yet.
At the heart of the conversation is Alex Bregman. The Red Sox would love to bring him back after a strong debut season in Boston-both on the field and in the clubhouse.
But Bregman’s market is heating up across the league, and there’s no guarantee he’ll be back in a Red Sox uniform in 2026. That opens the door for alternatives-and one name to keep an eye on is Nolan Arenado.
Let’s break this down.
Arenado: Past His Prime, But Still Intriguing
There’s no sugarcoating it: Arenado isn’t the player he once was. The 34-year-old is coming off the worst offensive season of his career, hitting just .237 with 12 home runs, 52 RBIs, and a .666 OPS-numbers that harken back to his rookie year in 2013, with the exception of the shortened 2020 season.
But even with that drop in production, Arenado brings a pedigree that’s tough to ignore. He’s a ten-time Gold Glove winner, six-time Platinum Glove recipient, five-time Silver Slugger, and an eight-time All-Star.
In his prime, he was a fixture in MVP conversations, finishing in the top 10 six times. The glove still plays, and even if the bat has cooled off, there’s value in his experience, leadership, and defensive consistency.
The Contract and the Fit
Here’s where things get interesting: Arenado is under contract for just two more seasons at a total of $42 million. That’s a manageable commitment for a team like Boston, especially if they’re not looking to hand out a massive nine-figure deal to retain Bregman. Arenado wouldn’t be a long-term solution, but he could serve as a bridge-allowing the Red Sox to buy time for one of their highly touted infield prospects, like Marcelo Mayer or Franklin Arias, to develop into an everyday contributor.
Boston was actually on Arenado’s short list of approved trade destinations last offseason, and the Red Sox were reportedly linked to him at the time. That connection hasn’t gone away.
With Craig Breslow now running the show in Boston and Chaim Bloom-formerly of the Red Sox-calling the shots in St. Louis, the lines of communication are wide open between the two front offices.
There’s already a trade history this winter, and both sides know what the other is looking for.
Bregman vs. Arenado: What’s the Play?
If the Red Sox had their pick, they’d probably stick with Bregman. He’s younger, more productive at the plate, and already has a year of chemistry with the roster and coaching staff. But Bregman’s next contract could be steep, and Boston’s front office doesn’t seem eager to commit to a long-term, high-dollar deal at third base.
That’s why Arenado might make sense-not as a splashy headline grabber, but as a short-term, cost-effective solution who brings credibility and stability to the hot corner. He’s not the same offensive threat he once was, but he still offers elite defense and veteran presence, and he fits the kind of calculated, transitional move that aligns with how the Red Sox are building.
So, could Boston and St. Louis link up for a third trade this offseason?
It’s on the table. And while it might not be the blockbuster some fans are hoping for, a deal for Arenado could be the kind of savvy, stopgap move that pays off in the right context-especially if it gives the Red Sox time to groom their next star third baseman from within.