The St. Louis Cardinals have just one question: Will they be able to trade their third baseman, Nolan Arenado? After all, this move seems unlikely until Alex Bregman, who is available as a free agent, gets signed. Now, Bregman’s sweepstakes are delayed to some extent, but given the Boston Red Sox’s pursuit, they can be close to signing him with a deal worth $200 million just as he wanted.

This makes Arenado’s market nonexistent, raising speculations about his ultimate destination. The Cardinals’ analyst, Katie Woo, though, has made it clear: It all depends on where Alex Bregman signs first. The St. Louis Cardinals are desperately trying to trade Nolan Arenado; however, they have been suffering a major setback. They are keen to bring younger players and not go with a long-term contract. On the other hand, despite exploring several places, Nolan’s no-trade clause makes him reject any deals with the teams that he doesn’t like to play.

Now, the availability of Houston Astros’ third baseman Alex Bregman as a free agent has led to Arenado’s sweepstakes going cold. He is younger and a better third baseman, so, teams are looking to get his services. Katie Woo said on January 10, “I still think, and I’ve said this before and will maintain it, we are at the mercy of Alex Bregman’s signing,” adding, “That was one of the reasons why Arenado wasn’t too sure if the Houston fit would be ideal for him. Again, he’d like to see what his market looks like, and it’s going to be hard to figure that out until we know where Alex Bregman signs.”

Katie also noted that Arenado wants to see the market before committing, but that won’ be feasible until Bregman agrees to a contract. Both Alex Bregman and Nolan Arenado have good connections with the Boston Red Sox. Thus, unless Alex’s deal is confirmed, Nolan’s market will remain stagnant, leaving him empty-handed. Although their destinations are yet to be seen, it is quite clear that the Red Sox are willing to balance their life-handed lineup besides enhancing their infield defense.

Do the Red Sox have to pay big for Bregman?

Many are questioning: will the Boston Red Sox break the bank to get Alex Bregman? After all, they do not need much help in the corner infield areas; the team has Triston Casas and Rafael Devers, and in case they sign Bregman, the crew might lose out on Triston. Casas has been a fascinating player, whom the Red Sox might look for in the long term. Boston Red Sox’s manager, Alex Cora, though, believes that Alex is worth every penny spent.

Cora revealed that despite not many agreeing to invest in such a hefty deal, Bregman’s deal can be a revolutionary move. Thankfully for the manager, there isn’t much competition right now, as Nolan Arenado, the third baseman, is yet to be signed by a team. However, given the Detroit Tigers’ unexpected rise to prominence as a top contender for him, the outlook is dismal—they need a third baseman, and Alex can be their perfect fit.

Now, the question is: Will Boston make the call first, or Bregman? In the last season, his performance was quite good, as he slashed 26 home runs along with 30 doubles and 75 RBIs. Also, the Red Sox are not the only team with Alex Bregman on their radar; the Tigers are also looking to get him in their lineup. Their manager, A. J. Hinch, even knows Bregman over his five seasons with the Houston Astros, which adds further possibilities around the signing.

So, who do you think will ultimately land Alex Bregman? Share your thoughts in the comments below