With St. Louis Cardinals place gamers set to report back to spring coaching this weekend, it seems to be more and more probably Nolan Arenado will stay with the group to start the 2025 season. Wednesday night time’s Alex Bregman signing eradicated the Boston Purple Sox, the group most linked to Arenado in current weeks, as a possible suitor.
“I suppose the mindset proper now could be he is probably going to be part of our membership at this level,” president of baseball operations John Mozeliak mentioned Thursday (by way of the Belleville Information-Democrat). “I undoubtedly really feel prefer it’s a greater probability than not (he is with the group on Opening Day).”
Mozeliak added Arenado’s no-trade clause “must open up a bit of bit extra” to get a deal executed. “I feel we have exhausted the others (as potentialities),” Mozeliak added (by way of the Belleville Information-Democrat). Arenado is reportedly keen to just accept a commerce to solely a handful of groups, the Purple Sox and San Diego Padres amongst them.
After all, the Cardinals had an Arenado commerce in place with the Houston Astros earlier this offseason, although he used his no-trade clause to dam the deal. Houston then pivoted to Christian Walker and Isaac Paredes. The New York Yankees reportedly provided a Marcus Stroman for Arenado swap early within the offseason. These talks did not go anyplace.
Arenado, 33, is owed $74 million over the subsequent three years, with the Colorado Rockies protecting $10 million. The Cardinals have been reportedly keen to pay down one other $15 million as a part of the failed commerce with the Astros, which means Houston would have absorbed $49 million over three years, or simply $16.3 million per yr.
The Yankees and Detroit Tigers are third base-needy groups that will make sense for Arenado, although it is unknown whether or not he would settle for a commerce to both group. The Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers each want a 3rd baseman as effectively, however trades with division rivals are at all times tough.
Ignoring the shortened 2020 season, Arenado is coming off the worst season of his profession. He hit .272/.325/.394 with 16 residence runs in 2024, a battling line that hardly qualifies as common, and his third base protection has slipped from all-world to merely excellent.
The Cardinals went 83-79 final yr and have been inactive this offseason. Mozeliak mentioned the group is coming into a “reset” quickly after the season ended.
