The Boston Red Sox might be one or two moves away from being considered real contenders in the American League. They appear to be aiming for another elite hitter and have been associated with St. Louis Cardinals infielder Nolan Arenado.
The Red Sox could pull off a trade for Nolan Arenado
According to team reporter Tyler Milliken, Nolan Arenado, a 33-year-old former star and perennial Gold Glove award winner at third base, is willing to waive his no-trade clause to join the Red Sox. The Red Sox are a strong contender to land Arenado via a trade from the Cardinals, and they may withdraw from the sweepstakes for Alex Bregman, depending on the Cardinals’ situation.
The Red Sox would have to move Casas to accommodate Arenado
Denton closely follows the Cardinals, so he understands what they are capable of and where they stand. The Red Sox’s trade of the younger Casas for the declining Arenado does not appear to be a good idea, despite the difference in defensive value.
Casas has a 126 OPS+ over the last two years, while Arenado sits at 104. There is a good chance Arenado will be a below-average hitter in a year or two, while Casas should give the Red Sox some excellent production for years to come. Complicating things is the fact that Masataka Yoshida is still on the roster, clogging up the designated hitter spot and taking some flexibility off the Red Sox.
If Arenado indeed lands with the Red Sox, the reasonable expectation would be to move Rafael Devers to first base and trade Casas for something of real value. Whether that is a sound plan or not is a discussion for another day.
