Injury to Red Sox hitter paves way for potential Cardinals trade of Nolan Arenado.
VP Arenado's Red Sox Shuffle: Could Injury Pave the Way?
Here's a twist in the MLB drama: with the injury-stricken Red Sox scrambling for a reliable first baseman, could Nolan Arenado - a man who reportedly was willing to join the Red Sox - be their ticket to salvation?
Triston Casas, Boston's first baseman, has been forced to undergo season-ending surgery following a nasty collision at first base. This leaves the Sox in a fix, prompting them to find a long-term replacement. persistent rumors about Rafael Devers moving to first base have only thickened, and Casas' injury could speed up that switch, leaving a massive void at the hot corner.
Arenado, who had a rough 2024, is slowly bouncing back, offering some value for teams willing to bite the bullet and absorb some of his hefty contract. The Cardinals, intent on shifting some of Arenado's salary to the trading team, had a tough time finding takers in the offseason. With the Red Sox in a winning window, the Cardinals might finally have the upper hand in a potential deal.
Chaim Bloom, the incoming president of baseball operations for the Cardinals – who previously helmed the Red Sox – is intimately acquainted with Boston's prospects, many of whom were drafted under his watch. Both John Mozeliak, the de jure head of the Cardinals' front office, and Bloom need to have a significant role in any Arenado deal involving the Red Sox.
The Red Sox have been ranked third in MLB.com's semiannual farm system rankings. Additionally, the Cardinals are eager to bolster their minor league pitching depth with strikeout-ready hurlers. Louis Perales and David Sandlin, top Red Sox pitching prospects who fit the Cardinals' preferred fireballer profile, could potentially swing the negotiations.
Although Mozeliak hinted at a 2025 competition comeback, the struggling Cardinals are currently languishing in fourth place in the NL Central, with a 17-19 record. A Wild Card team emerging from the division seems unlikely, requiring the Cardinals to aim for division domination to secure a postseason spot. In this context, the Cardinals can't afford to let the allure of Mozeliak's final season cloud their judgment. If the Red Sox make a move for Arenado, the Cardinals should snatch up the opportunity and seal the deal.
[1] T. Casas injured, Boston Red Sox scrambling to find a first baseman[2] Red Sox's Triston Casas headed for season-ending surgery[3] Boston Red Sox's Triston Casas out for season after knee injury[4] Triston Casas set for cautious recovery from knee injury[5] Boston Red Sox: Triston Casas' injury and the potential replacements at first base.
- Could Nolan Arenado, with his reported willingness to join the Red Sox, fill the void at first base left by Triston Casas' injury and help the Red Sox maintain their top spot in MLB?
- The Cardinals, with their desire to bolster their minor league pitching depth and Arenado's hefty contract proving a challenge, might find an opportunity in the Red Sox's injury-stricken situation to achieve a trade for Arenado, particularly given their shared history with Red Sox's top prospects Louis Perales and David Sandlin.
