How Alex Bregman signing with Red Sox affects the Dodgers in 2025

On Wednesday night, Alex Bregman finally decided that he actually did want to have a job in 2025 and signed a three-year, $120 million deal with the Red Sox. Boston took a page out of the Dodgers' playbook for his contract, which includes heavy deferrals that will make the present-day value of his contract around $90 million. The Red Sox beat out the Tigers and Cubs, the former of whom offered more years and more money than Boston.

The Dodgers were never seriously connected to Bregman — only ever in a loose, speculative, "the Dodgers get everyone they want, so why should they stop now?" way — but they have been in the conversation for the other major third baseman who could move before Opening Day, Nolan Arenado.

The Cardinals have been trying to trade Arenado all offseason, but their chances might be better now that Bregman is off the board and the teams that lost out on him get more desperate for a third baseman. Arenado's no-trade clause could complicate things, but if he wants out of St. Louis as badly as they want him out, he might be a little more flexible.

Alex Bregman's signing could put Cardinals in a better position to deal rumored Dodgers trade candidate Nolan Arenado

The facts are the same as always: Bregman is still just better than Arenado, and Arenado still comes with a couple of red flags (his declining offensive performance being the main one). However, the Cubs and Tigers might be putting on rose-colored glasses now that Bregman's off the board. Arenado's still an elite defensive player, and all that.

The Dodgers have continued to be distantly mentioned in this conversation, but Jeff Passan referred to them as "long shots" recently, and LA's not desperate for a third baseman with Max Muncy on board at least through the end of the season (the Dodgers have a club option worth $10 million for 2026).

It's more likely that the Cardinals will try to turn to the Cubs, Tigers, or even Blue Jays to capitalize on their need for a gap-filler. None of those teams are on Arenado's reported list of teams he'd waive his no-trade clause for, so he could just outright refuse, stay with the Cardinals, and keep making the money he was always going to make. It'd certainly be a middle-finger to a front office that hasn't held back on their desire to get rid of him.