There has been significant buzz surrounding the Toronto Blue Jays’ interest in star third baseman Alex Bregman this offseason. As a former MVP finalist and a multi-award winner with both Gold Gloves and Silver Sluggers, Bregman could be the ideal solution for the Jays at both the plate and in the field in the coming years. However, with fierce competition for the talented free agent, a bidding war might be inevitable.

Given that, ESPN insider Kiley McDaniel recently suggested that the Jays might find a better alternative through a trade—specifically, by acquiring eight-time All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado from the St. Louis Cardinals.

Arenado, a 10-time Gold Glove winner and five-time Silver Slugger, has consistently been one of the top players in the league, finishing in the top 10 of MVP voting six times over his 12-year career. With averages of 33 home runs, 109 RBIs, a .285 batting average, and an .857 OPS per season, Arenado brings everything Bregman offers and more.

While Arenado’s 2024 season was his worst since 2014, posting just 70 runs, 23 doubles, 16 home runs, and 71 RBIs in 152 games, his advanced stats tell a different story. His strikeout and whiff rates were still in the top 12% of the league, indicating he’s not overmatched at the plate. Defensively, his 10 outs above average ranked him in the top 5% of players, showing that, despite being 33, he’s still an elite fielding third baseman.

However, Arenado has three years and over $74 million remaining on his current contract, meaning the Cardinals would likely need to absorb a significant portion of the salary for a trade to happen. If the Jays take on most of that contract, it could limit their ability to address other needs this offseason. From the Cardinals’ perspective, they may not receive a top-tier prospect in return if they have to cover a large portion of the salary for a player coming off a down year. But with the right price and a solid prospect package, the Blue Jays could land the ideal replacement for Matt Chapman for the next three seasons.