Nolan Arenado Trade Rumors: Red Sox Are a 'Preferred Destination' for Cardinals Star

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado has expressed that the Boston Red Sox would be his "preferred destination" if they show interest in acquiring him, according to Mass Live's Chris Cotillo and Sean McAdam.

Arenado holds a full no-trade clause, according to industry sources, per Cotillo and McAdam. He has previously exercised this clause, blocking a trade to the Houston Astros in late December.

The 33-year-old posted 16 home runs and 71 RBI with a .272 batting average last season for the 83-79 Cardinals, who finished second in the NL Central.

John Mozeliak, the Cardinals' president of baseball operations, made it clear that the third baseman, who is under contract for three more seasons, is widely available. The team has been actively trying to trade him throughout the season in an effort to reduce payroll, per Cotillo and McAdam.

"It's expected St. Louis will continue to do everything it can to extract fair value for Arenado before Opening Day in an attempt to get a deal done," Cotillo and McAdam said.

Arenado is not an ideal fit for the Red Sox, who already have star third baseman Rafael Devers. While Devers could theoretically shift to second base, the Red Sox have remained firm on keeping him at third.

"Rafael Devers is our third baseman and we are really excited about that," the Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer told WEEI's Jones and Keefe, per Clutch Points Nathan Yasis. "I think last year, we saw some improvement in terms of the way he was able to move, particularly to his left, which had not been as comfortable for him as to his right. And then toward the middle of the season, after there was a stretch where he almost singlehandedly carried the team for a number of weeks, he had a knee injury, two shoulder injuries," Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow added.

In addition, Breslow has dismissed rumors that the team is shopping first baseman Tristan Casas, effectively shutting down any possibility of Devers moving to first base or making other infield adjustments.

"I'm not totally sure where it comes from," Breslow said in regard to the trade rumors involving Casas on Monday, per Cotillo and McAdam. "We're not shopping Triston. We see him as a guy that can hit in the middle of the lineup for a really long time here in Boston. Obviously, plus power, plus strike zone judgment, the ability to get on base, and it's someone that I don't think we've seen the best of. He obviously missed a number of months during the season. We're really excited for him to be completely healthy. He's had a full healthy offseason."

Despite the seemingly questionable fit, Arenado remains steadfast in his desire to join the nine-time World Series champion Boston Red Sox ahead of the 2025 MLB season.