While the Boston Red Sox continue to look for a right-handed bat to even out their lefty-heavy lineup in 2025 and beyond, two names keep getting brought up – Nolan Arenado and Alex Bregman.
Both players have been among the best third basemen in baseball over the last decade, but they may both find new homes this offseason, Arenado in a trade and Bregman in free agency.
Bringing in either could significantly improve Boston’s infield defense playing third base, but the Red Sox are reportedly haven’t considered moving Rafael Devers off of third base.
“The Red Sox have internally discussed both Alex Bregman and Nolan Arenado this offseason, but, incredibly, with the idea of playing them somewhere other than third base,” Sean McAdam wrote for MassLive over the weekend. “Bregman, who won a Gold Glove at third in 2024 while playing for Houston, would be shifted to second. Arenado, winner of 10 (!) Gold Gloves and widely considered one of the best fielding third basemen in modern baseball history, could be stashed at first.”
It doesn’t make much sense to acquire either of these players, who are either out of or exiting their prime, just to move them to new positions. And, if they move them to first, the Red Sox would have to then turn around and trade Casas elsewhere, which would hurt the offense even more.
Boston has reiterated repeatedly that they’re not moving Devers to a new position right now, but if they want to bring in either Bregman or Arenado, it would make the most sense to transition Devers to designated hitter, where he’ll likely move in a few years anyway.
Not only does this improve the infield defense, but it also allows Devers to focus on hitting and limits his opportunities to get hurt, which has happened in the field with some regularity.
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