Blue Jays should pivot to Cardinals star after missing out on Alex Bregman

The Toronto Blue Jays have missed out on yet another star player as Alex Bregman chose to sign a three-year deal with the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday.

While the Blue Jays may not have been heavily connected to Bregman as some other free agents, it was another frustrating miss in an offseason highlighting by finishing a runner-up for Juan Soto, Roki Sasaki, Corbin Burnes, and Pete Alonso. And while the Blue Jays missed out on all those free agents, there's one more quality option available before the 2025 season gets underway.

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado has had his name chucked out in trade rumors for months after the Cardinals acknowledged their desire to trade him, he's someone the Blue Jays should consider acquiring to cap off the offseason.

There would be a lot of things that would need to go right for the Blue Jays to acquire Arenado (inluding Arenado waiving his no-trade clause), but, at this point, a pursuit of Arenado is an avenue the Blue Jays should consider.

Blue Jays should pivot to Nolan Arenado after missing out on Alex Bregman

Arenado, who is 33 years old, hit .272 with 16 home runs and 71 RBI with the Cardinals last season. He one of the best defenders in the sport, though he will cost a pretty penny for any team interested in trading for him. 

The Blue Jays will likely have to give up a top prospect, roster player, and take on a portion of the $64 million Arenado's owed over the next three years. While Arenado's a bit older, he still brings a lot to the table and would immediately turn the Blue Jays into legitimate contenders. Bregman is an elite player who will take the Red Sox to another level, and the Blue Jays need to react accordingly. 

But perhaps the biggest detriment to the Blue Jays' pursuit of Arenado is his no-trade clause, which he already used to block a potential trade to the Houston Astros in December.

And while the Blue Jays weren't on the initial list of teams that Arenado said he would waive his no-trade clause for, both Arenado and Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak have gone on the record to say they want a trade. Is there a chance Arenado gets antsy as spring training starts and expands the list of teams he's considering?

Time will tell if Arenado does gets moved, but if he’s still available, he is someone the Blue Jays need to go after. His value on both sides of the ball (along with his veteran presence) is exactly what the Blue Jays need to become contenders.

Arenado's free agency is a complicated situation that doesn't have an easy answer, but Toronto shoud be doing everything in it's power to try to convince the former All-Star to head north.