The St. Louis Cardinals kicked off the offseason with a series of moves signaling the start of a long-anticipated rebuild. They allowed several veteran pitchers to leave in free agency, followed by parting ways with veteran first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. Soon after, reports surfaced that the Cardinals were actively looking to trade third baseman Nolan Arenado.
Arenado is coming off a 2024 season where he hit .272/.325/.394 with 16 home runs and 23 doubles. However, just two years ago, he recorded a career-high WAR. Baseball Reference projects him to produce a .267/.324/.440 slash line in the upcoming season, with 21 home runs and 26 doubles.
So far, no team appears to be close to finalizing a deal for the Gold Glove third baseman. However, the Boston Red Sox remain interested, and if Arenado is determined to join a contender, he could push for a move to Boston.
This Red Sox-Cardinals trade would put an end to the Nolan Arenado saga
The Red Sox have been strong contenders in the pursuit of Alex Bregman, but as he narrows down his options, it appears Boston may be out of the running. As a result, if the Red Sox still want to land a star third baseman, they might need to pivot and strike a deal with the Cardinals for Nolan Arenado.
Red Sox-Arenado Trade Scenario
The proposed trade is straightforward: the Cardinals would send Arenado along with a significant amount of cash to help cover his contract, while the Red Sox would part with pitching prospect Richard Fitts in return.
Fitts, 25, impressed in just over 20 innings of MLB action last season and shined in the minors as well. The right-hander features multiple quality pitches and has the poise to thrive at the highest level. While he might not break into Boston’s rotation immediately, a trade to St. Louis could fast-track his path to a starting role with the Cardinals.
For Boston, Arenado would slot in at third base, allowing Rafael Devers to shift over to first. Devers could share time with first baseman Triston Casas, with one manning first base and the other serving as the designated hitter. This rotation would help keep both players healthy and fresh over the course of the season.
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