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Zach Pressnell has experience covering all major US sports at the professional and collegiate levels. He's worked/works for FanSided, Blog Red Machine, The Game Haus, Bethany College Athletics, and the Bethany College online newspaper, He graduated from Bethany College (WV) with a degree in Communications and Media Arts, specializing in Sports Journalism. Pressnell was also a four-year member of the baseball team where he earned himself All-PAC recognition as a pitcher (and a cool Tommy John surgery scar). Now, Pressnell specializes in NFL and MLB coverage for SI and Newsweek among others. Find him on Twitter/X @zpretzel
Contributing Sports Writer
The Boston Red Sox are one of the final five teams rumored to be in the Alex Bregman sweepstakes. While the Red Sox have a decent shot to land the superstar infielder, the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, Toronto Blue Jays, and Detroit Tigers all have reported offers out as well.
If the Red Sox miss on Bregman, where will they turn?
MLB.com's John Denton recently revealed the Red Sox could pivot to St. Louis Cardinals infielder Nolan Arenado if they whiff on Bregman.
"The Cards and Red Sox have again engaged in trade talks centered around Arenado in recent days, a source told MLB.com," Denton wrote. "Arenado, who hit .272 with 16 home runs and 71 RBIs in 2024, has a full no-trade clause in his contract, and he exercised that option in December to block a potential trade to the Astros. Boston would prefer to sign former Astros All-Star Alex Bregman, but it is in a bidding war with at least two other teams for the services of the free-agent third baseman, per the source.
"A sticking point in any Arenado deal could come down to how much of the $64 million remaining on Arenado's contract the Cardinals are willing to absorb. Initial trade talks in early January broke down when the Cardinals refused to pay as much as $20 million toward the balance of Arenado's contract, a source said."
An Arenado trade could be the perfect solution for Boston.
Instead of sending nearly $200 million to Bregman, they could acquire a similar infielder for over $150 million less. The prospect cost of this trade would likely be a backend of the top 30 prospect like Blaze Jordan, which the Red Sox could absolutely afford to do.
Missing on Bregman could be a blessing in disguise for Boston if it can execute this move instead.
More MLB: Bombshell Report Reveals Astros Still Alive In $200 Million Alex Bregman Sweepstakes
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