Jan. 19: Are Bregman, Arenado still on Red Sox’s radar?
The Red Sox saw one of their top bullpen targets come off the board Sunday as left-handed reliever Tanner Scott agreed to a four-year deal with the Dodgers, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. While Boston is still surveying the bullpen market, that position is a secondary priority for the club right now. According to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo, the Red Sox’s No. 1 priority is adding a right-handed bat.

To that end, Cotillo writes that free agent Alex Bregman and trade candidate Nolan Arenado “remain the two big-name — yet imperfect — fits the Red Sox have considered.” Although Boston’s current level of interest is unclear, Cotillo adds that the team may be waiting for either player “to get desperate as Spring Training draws closer.”

The Red Sox’s estimated luxury tax payroll for the 2025 season is at about $210 million, per FanGraphs’ Roster Resource. That leaves the team about $31 million from the first competitive balance tax threshold, seemingly giving Boston plenty of space to afford a player such as Bregman.

Arenado will count $25.55 million against the luxury tax over the next three seasons. The veteran third baseman has a no-trade clause, but Cotillo and MassLive’s Sean McAdam reported earlier this month that Boston “is a preferred destination — if not the preferred destination — for Arenado.” Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said Saturday that he thinks trading Arenado is “priority one, two and three” for St. Louis.

Once the Red Sox turn their attention to the reliever market, they could consider pitchers such as Kirby Yates, Carlos Estévez and David Robertson, among others. Cotillo reported a couple of weeks ago that Boston has checked in on Estévez.

Jan. 8: Red Sox among ‘most likely landing spots’ for Bregman (report)
While the Blue Jays, Yankees and Mets have also been connected to free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman lately, MLB Network insider Jon Heyman thinks the Red Sox and Tigers are the “most likely landing spots.”

Boston has been busy on the pitching side of the ball this offseason, adding Garrett Crochet, Walker Buehler, Patrick Sandoval, Aroldis Chapman, Justin Wilson and Jovani Moran, but they have yet to sign a bat in free agency.

FanGraphs puts Boston’s current payroll at an estimated $172 million, presumably leaving plenty of room in its budget to fit Bregman.

If the Red Sox do end up adding Bregman, it’s possible they’ll use him to fill their void at second base. Signing Bregman to play third base and moving Rafael Devers to first is another possibility, potentially freeing up the club to trade first baseman Triston Casas for more pitching.

The Red Sox also have been mentioned as a potential suitor for Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado. A source told MLB.com’s John Denton that Arenado has informed the Cardinals that he is willing to approve a trade to Boston. Meanwhile, Chris Cotillo and Sean McAdam of MassLive.com have reported that the Red Sox are “a preferred destination — if not the preferred destination” for the third baseman, although Boston’s level of interest in acquiring Arenado is unclear.

The Tigers, meanwhile, already bolstered their infield with the addition of second baseman Gleyber Torres on a one-year, $15 million deal, but third base remains unsettled. Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press recently reported that Detroit is “all in” on Bregman to fill the void. Even after signing Torres, the Tigers’ payroll sits at just $109 million.

Jan. 5: Red Sox a ‘preferred destination’ for Arenado (report)
Nolan Arenado’s full no-trade clause has already reduced the chances of a deal involving the Cardinals third baseman this offseason: In December, Arenado reportedly blocked a potential trade to the Astros. But if the Red Sox were to go after Arenado, the St. Louis star apparently wouldn’t say no.

Chris Cotillo and Sean McAdam of MassLive.com reported Sunday that the Red Sox are “a preferred destination — if not the preferred destination” for Arenado, although Boston’s level of interest in acquiring Arenado is unclear. Earlier in the offseason, MLB.com Cardinals beat writer John Denton reported that the Red Sox were one of six teams to which Arenado would accept a trade, along with the Dodgers, Padres, Angels, Mets and Phillies.

While the Red Sox have an established third baseman in Rafael Devers, the club could move Devers to first base to accommodate Arenado at the hot corner. That would leave first baseman Triston Casas as the odd man out, but according to Cotillo and McAdam, “there remains a belief in the industry that the Red Sox remain open to trading Casas, potentially for young pitching, to facilitate other roster maneuvering.” That would run counter to chief baseball officer Craig Breslow’s comments on Dec. 30 that the team was not “shopping” Casas.

Dec. 27: What’s next for Red Sox after adding Buehler?
The Red Sox have made yet another pitching addition, agreeing to a one-year, $21.05 million deal with right-hander Walker Buehler (per a source). Boston’s deal with Buehler, which follows its blockbuster trade for ace lefty Garrett Crochet and its two-year contract agreement with Patrick Sandoval, could signal an end to the team’s rotation shopping.