The Boston Red Sox have made some progress this winter, but they need to make at least one more move before calling the offseason a success. Garrett Crochet and Walker Buehler are valuable additions to the starting rotation, and Aroldis Chapman and a few young arms might potentially improve the bullpen. However, the Red Sox have still done nothing to replace Tyler O’Neill’s right-handed power in the order.
The Red Sox might still sign Alex Bregman or perhaps switch-hitter Anthony Santander, but the chase does not appear to have escalated on Boston’s end. They’ve been cautious to spend big money on free agents in recent years, and despite their talk about altering that, they have failed to back it up. A deal may still benefit the Red Sox. Rafael Devers has regularly been linked to a move away from third base, which would allow Boston to acquire eight-time All-Star Nolan Arenado from the St. Louis Cardinals.
Dylan of the Wrightway Sports Network recently projected that the Red Sox would trade for Arenado, which would force Devers to play designated hitter.
“Trading for someone as consistent and all-around skilled as Arenado would be a great start to prove to (the Red Sox’s) fans and the team they are taking this 2025 team and the future seriously,” Dylan said.
“They shouldn’t have to give up too many prospects with the aging vet on a large contract, they just need to work out those finances and the Red Sox could be a sneaky team to the AL East.” Arenado, 33, is coming off a poor year that included his lowest OPS (.719) since his rookie season in 2013. But he’s still an exceptional defender, even if he’s lost half a step since his Hall of Fame peak, and his swing is primed for a comeback at Fenway Park.
Obviously, switching Devers to designated hitter would involve finding a trade partner for Masataka Yoshida and swallowing the majority of the cost. They could offset this by sending better prospects to the Cardinals in exchange for a portion of Arenado’s remaining $52 million. There are reasons to believe that a trade like this might benefit the Red Sox, but predicting a trade before it occurs is never an exact science.
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