The Alex Bregman sweepstakes are over. The two-time All-Star is headed to the Red Sox on a three-year, $120 million deal with two opt-outs. This is bad news for the Cardinals.
Why is it bad news, you ask? Well, while the Bregman situation is finally solved, and Nolan Arenado’s market can take shape, the Red Sox were the only team the Cardinals were talking to about an Arenado deal. So now, the Cardinals are left with a conundrum. They may not be able to cut payroll like they had hoped because Arenado is still around, and there are no clear suitors for him at the moment.
So, what happens next? Quite honestly, I don’t think it’s a question anybody has an answer to. It appears likely that Arenado is going to begin the 2025 season with the Cardinals. Many in the industry saw the Red Sox as his last opportunity to get traded this winter.
I’m afraid that may be the case. That doesn’t mean some other suitors won’t emerge, but the Cardinals are more than likely going to be stuck with an unhappy camper. In the meantime, I’m sure John Mozeliak will keep looking to trade Arenado, as that has been his top priority this offseason. But will he have any luck? That remains to be seen.
At this point, I’m not optimistic the Cardinals are going to find a taker for the eight-time All-Star. If he wants to get traded, he’s going to have to pivot and add a few more teams to his potential wishlist.
Ken Rosenthal reported yesterday that the Yankees, who were also on his list, did not have any interest in trading for him and aren’t in a position to add more money, so that complicates things even further.
Perhaps the Cardinals could pivot to some of the teams that lost out on Bregman. They won’t trade him to the Cubs, but the Tigers are a possibility, as they had a lucrative offer on the table for Bregman, and if they were willing to spend on him, perhaps they’ll be willing to take on at least part of Arenado’s salary. Detroit also has good prospects.
But right now, it seems like the only way Arenado gets traded before Opening Day is if he expands his list of potential destinations. The Red Sox were his top choice. Now that isn’t an option. The Dodgers also aren’t an option, as they already have Max Muncy at third base, and adding Arenado would create a logjam.
So, while there’s a little more clarity now that Bregman is signed, there also isn’t. The situation is murky, and soon, the Cardinals may be stuck in a very bad situation, with the relationship between Arenado and the organization damaged.
I’m sure Mo will keep looking for ways to trade Arenado, but I’m still pessimistic that something gets done before Sunday, when position players report to camp.
