ESPN: Red Sox To Trade For $135 Million Pair Of Cardinals All-Stars sweepstakes

The Boston Red Sox are reportedly among the leading contenders in the race to acquire Nolan Arenado from the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals are looking to offload the All-Star and his hefty contract, but Arenado’s no-trade clause has added complexity to the situation. While the Red Sox appear to be a logical fit, they are unlikely to take on much of Arenado’s remaining salary, which has stalled progress on a potential deal.

Cody Williams of FanSided proposed a solution that could make the trade more appealing for Boston. He suggested a blockbuster deal where the Red Sox acquire both Arenado and Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley. Williams referenced a report from Chris Cotillo and Sean McAdam of MassLive linking Boston to top-tier bullpen arms, including Tanner Scott.

He argued that including Helsley in the deal could make it more feasible for the Red Sox to absorb around $40 million of Arenado’s remaining $52 million contract.

To make this deal work, Boston would likely need to part with several top prospects, addressing two significant roster needs in one move. While no reports indicate this specific trade is being actively discussed, it’s a scenario worth monitoring in the coming weeks.