Heading into this offseason, the Boston Red Sox made no secret of their goal to add a impactful right-handed bat to their lineup. Chief of baseball operations Craig Breslow has consistently emphasized that acquiring a righty hitter is one of the team’s top priorities ahead of the 2025 campaign.
However, with the Red Sox’s first full-squad spring training workout—where all players are required to report—just 10 days away, the team has yet to make a move to secure that coveted right-handed hitter. In fact, Boston’s entire offseason has largely stalled. Since the start of 2025, the Red Sox have added just one player to their 40-man roster: Blake Sobol, a third-year catcher who appeared in only 11 Major League games for the San Francisco Giants last season. Sobol is viewed as a depth piece and is unlikely to see significant playing time at the big-league level unless injuries force the team’s hand.
### Red Sox’s Pursuit of Nolan Arenado: A Potential Blockbuster Trade
Despite their inactivity over the past month, the Red Sox have reportedly been working behind the scenes to make significant moves. One of the most notable rumors involves a potential trade for St. Louis Cardinals’ veteran third baseman Nolan Arenado, an eight-time All-Star. Arenado is said to have strong interest in joining the Red Sox, but no deal has been finalized. According to recent reports, Boston now faces competition from their longtime rivals, the New York Yankees, who have entered the race for Arenado’s services.
Arenado is entering the final two years of an eight-year, $260 million contract extension he signed with the Colorado Rockies before the 2019 season. A key factor in any potential trade is whether the Cardinals are willing to absorb a portion of the $37 million Arenado is owed over the next two seasons. Talks between the Red Sox and Cardinals reportedly broke down in January when Boston insisted that St. Louis cover $20 million of Arenado’s salary, according to MLB.com’s John Denton. However, negotiations have reportedly resumed in February, with the Yankees now also in the mix, potentially threatening to outmaneuver the Red Sox for Arenado.
### Should the Red Sox Be Concerned?
While the Yankees’ involvement adds a layer of complexity, the Red Sox may still hold the upper hand in trade discussions. As Ryan Garcia of Empire Sports Media pointed out, Boston’s farm system is ranked first by *Baseball America*, while the Yankees’ system sits at 25th. This gives the Red Sox a significant advantage in terms of prospect capital to offer in a potential deal. Garcia also expressed skepticism about Arenado’s fit with the Yankees, noting that Yankee Stadium’s dimensions may not suit Arenado’s pull-heavy hitting style, especially as he has seen a decline in his raw power in recent years. Garcia added that for a deal to make sense for the Yankees, the Cardinals would need to absorb a substantial portion of Arenado’s salary, and other teams would have to balk at parting with top prospects.
According to Denton, the Cardinals are particularly interested in acquiring Red Sox prospect Blaze Jordan, a right-handed power hitter ranked 22nd in Boston’s system, as a key piece in any trade for Arenado. As the offseason clock ticks down, the Red Sox will need to act swiftly to secure their top target while fending off their rivals in the Bronx.
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