With spring training only a few days away, the Boston Red Sox are running out of time to sign the right-handed bat they have been looking for all winter.
Boston’s pursuit of Alex Bregman has not gone well, and persistent claims that he will not take a short-term contract do not speak well for the team’s hopes. In response, the Red Sox have resumed trade talks with the St. Louis Cardinals for Nolan Arenado.
The Cardinals have described Arenado’s prospective trade as “a top priority” this offseason. The veteran’s deal includes a no-trade provision, and he declined a trade to Houston earlier this offseason. The Red Sox are one of the few teams he’d be willing to play for.
Arenado’s recent social media activities has thrown Sox supporters into a frenzy. He posted a video of a towering home run by Red Sox legend Manny Ramirez, with no commentary or context. Many Boston fans read the post as confirmation of a deal with the Red Sox.
Nolan Arenado’s Instagram activity has Red Sox fans ready for him to come to Boston
Arenado has shared many photographs and videos this winter that have raised concerns from fans across the league, mostly pertaining to the Dodgers. He used Kendrick Lamar’s song “Dodger Blue” as the soundtrack for an Instagram post and wore Los Angeles caps in photos. The southern California native grew up a Dodgers fan, and many consider them his favored trade destination.
Arenado’s Ramirez home run came during his eight-year stay in Cleveland, not with the Red Sox. Ramirez also played for the Dodgers, so this could be another cryptic post about Arenado’s desire to play in Los Angeles.
However, as long as Boston requires a right-handed bat and the Cardinals’ desire to deal Arenado grows, many Red Sox fans will hope his Instagram story signals that he will soon be changing his socks to a different shade of red.
