One wild Chicago Cubs trade rumor can already be put to rest

It seems rather clear that Jed Hoyer had high hopes for the Chicago Cubs being able to land All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman.

Instead, it what has become a familiar tune this offseason, Hoyer was left in the passenger seat as the Boston Red Sox blew past the Cubs with a three-year pact with Bregman worth $120MM. It's difficult to find many issues with Hoyer's approach as he convinced The Ricketts family to give the seal of approval on the Cubs' four-year offer that fell had a value of just under $120MM. There is a fault to have with the Ricketts, but this isn't the article for that airing of a grievance that has been on display since 2018.

The Cubs' public pursuit of Bregman has led to some speculation that the team may turn their attention to their division rival and pursue a trade for St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado. The premise of the idea is straightforward. The Cardinals are looking to move Arenado, the Red Sox were the heaviest of teams rumored in a potential trade, and the same reasons why the Cubs were pursuing Bregman can loosely be applied to Arenado—albeit there is a more apparent decline in production for the Cardinals' third baseman.

Despite the linear connection that could be made, Bruce Levine is doing his part to make sure the rumors do not gain steam.

"Another high-profile third baseman remains on the market for anyone interested in trading for the Cardinals’ Nolan Arenado, but a union with the Cubs is unrealistic. Arenado, who will turn 34 in April, hit .272 with 16 homers and a .719 OPS in 152 games in 2024. His 101 OPS+ was just a hair above league average, and he’s owed $74 million over the next three seasons, though $10 million of that will be picked up by the Rockies, his first MLB team," Levine reports.

A Nolan Arenado trade does not appear to have much life for the Chicago Cubs

This seems to be more of Levine adding his two cents than it is sourced information but for once, his point does carry some weight. However, it's worth pointing out that the Cardinals would be responsible for some of Arenado's remaining money in any deal. Perhaps, if the Cardinals were willing to eat the right amount, there would be a worthwhile trade to be made between the two teams but that ship doesn't appear to be anywhere near a port right now.

The name of the moment for the Cubs in the aftermath of losing out on Bregman remains Justin Turner. Turner, given his age, likely will be had on a one-year deal worth no more than $8MM. Turner wouldn't be a legitimate third-base option for the Cubs at this stage in his career but would be a serviceable right-handed bench bat and veteran presence for the Cubs' prospects making their way to Wrigley Field in 2025.