Rafael Devers, Triston Casas pose obstacles to $260,000,000 star, per MLB insider

MLB insider John Denton reported Monday that the Boston Red Sox was a strong candidate to land third baseman Nolan Arenado from the St. Louis Cardinals via trade. This would mean the franchise pulling out of free agent third baseman Alex Bregman sweepstakes while filling the spot at the hot corner.

Despite the report, certain obstacles could hamper a potential trade. The first and foremost is where the former NL MVP will play. Rafael Devers has occupied third and Triston Casas is on first. MLB Insider Robert Murray feels trading either piece for Arenado isn't worth it.

"Then there’s the entire discussion of: What do you do with Rafael Devers? What do you do with Triston Casas? Devers has been pretty adamant that he wants to stay at third base; that’s his position of choice," Murray said Monday on "Baseball Insiders" podcast (10:07 onwards). "So, if he wants to be at third base, where do you put Arenado? Do you put him at first base where Casas is? Does that lead to a Casas trade?

"If Devers ends up indicating that he’s willing to move off third base, then you put Arnauto at third, but does that lead to Casas being traded? If I’m the Boston Red Sox, I do not trade Triston Casas. I think that would come back to bite them and make them look foolish. Maybe I’m wrong—I’ve been wrong before—but if I’m the Red Sox, that’s a move I don’t make."

Nolan Arenado's hefty contract is a state of bother too, says Robert Murray

Adding to the complexity is Nolan Arenado’s hefty contract, which includes $260 million in total guarantees. The financial commitment would require the Red Sox to carefully weigh what assets they are willing to part with in exchange for a star whose prime years might be behind him.

"There are a lot of moving pieces here, and if I’m the Red Sox, I would be really careful about this one," Robert Murray said. "Arenado is a very talented player, and he’s going to be in the Hall of Fame discussion for sure — he’s just an immensely talented guy. But he is not the same player that he was in Colorado; there’s no mistaking it. Offensively and defensively, he’s declined."

Between Devers' desire to stay at third base and Casas' promising future, the team has critical internal dynamics to consider before moving for Arenado.