Red Sox Listed As Third-Best Fit For 10-Time Gold Glover

Many signs point to the Boston Red Sox re-signing Alex Bregman this offseason, but that doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed. In the event that a Boston-Bregman reunion falls through, the Red Sox would have to pivot to other options at third base. Marcelo Mayer can play there, of course, but MLB.com’s Mike Petriello proposed another interesting idea.

Petriello listed the Red Sox as the third-best trade fit for St. Louis Cardinals’ Nolan Arenado, who has had quite a career with 10 Gold Gloves and eight All-Star berths to his name.

Arenado is past his prime at this point, but at 34 years old, he still has at least a year or two of productive baseball left, even if his bat has lost some potency. Arenado would definitely bring a much-needed veteran presence to the Red Sox’s clubhouse, especially in the unfortunate event that Bregman does not re-sign.

“Nothing is going to happen here until Bregman’s status is clarified, so that might take a minute,” Petriello wrote.

“If he signs elsewhere, then the incumbent (Red Sox) third baseman would be second-year player Marcelo Mayer, but with some caveats. For one thing, Mayer missed the last two months of the season after right wrist surgery, making it his third consecutive season that ended early due to injury, after a back issue in 2024 and a shoulder issue in 2023.”

“For another, Mayer is a natural shortstop who might also end up at second base, so he’s not locked into third,” Petriello continued. “While Arenado is hardly the Alonso-esque power bat this team really needs, his dead-pull swing might work well with the Green Monster, too. He was reportedly willing to join Boston last winter.”

Arenado hit .237 with 12 homers, 52 RBIs and 48 runs scored in 107 games in 2025 for St. Louis.

Petriello listed the Arizona Diamondbacks (No. 2) and the Los Angeles Angels (No. 1) as the two Arenado landing spots ahead of the Red Sox in terms of best fit.