‘I think he would thrive here’: Trevor Story praises former teammate Nolan Arenado amid trade rumors
"He's as good as it gets. The intensity that he brings to a team is really beneficial."
With the Red Sox reportedly looking to make one more significant trade, and Nolan Arenado still on the market, the idea of acquiring the star third baseman appears to be gaining traction.
One person unequivocally in favor of the idea is Trevor Story, who spent five years alongside Arenado with the Rockies. Speaking at Fenway Fest on Saturday, Story called it a “unique opportunity.”
“Just the chance of that happening is exciting,” Story told reporters. “I’ve played around him a lot. He’s as good as it gets. The intensity that he brings to a team is really beneficial. I think he would thrive here.”
Story said Arenado is a close friend and someone with whom he often talks about baseball. He noted that the Red Sox have a “really good third baseman” in Rafael Devers, and said it would be up to “someone else” to figure out how that works.
Arenado, 33, is a career .285 hitter, with 341 home runs and 1,132 RBIs. His average dipped to .272, home run total to 16, and RBI total 71 last year, but Story isn’t at all concerned.
“There’s no doubt in my mind he’s still that guy,” Story said. “I think it’s easy to look at numbers and kind of make an assumption, but he’s still Nolan Arenado. He’s still a Hall of Fame-type player in my eyes, and I think in a lot of people’s eyes. So, yeah, I’m definitely not following the narrative on that.”
Manager Alex Cora said that before the Red Sox get to the point of adding a right-handed bat at third base, they would talk to Rafael Devers.
“That’s the way I operate,” Cora told reporters.
Cora said right now, the Red Sox haven’t talked to Devers, and there are no conversations about him potentially moving positions.
“Raffy Devers is our third baseman,” Cora said.
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