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Tag: Arenado

  • Why Ryan Pressly trade could finally open up infield market for Alex Bregman, Nolan Arenado and Pete Alonso


    Is a veteran reliever the key to the still gummed-up market for free-agent infielders? That may be the case, peculiar as it sounds. Let us explain.

    The Chicago Cubs have reportedly agreed to acquire high-leverage bullpenner Ryan Pressly from the Houston Astros in exchange for right-hander Juan Bello. The Astros are including $5.5 million cash in the deal to defray part of Pressly’s $14 million commitment for 2025, the final year of his contract. The question in Houston right about now is whether the club will put those savings back into the roster. 

    That, tidily enough, brings us to Astros lifer Alex Bregman, who remains on the free-agent market. Bregman is of interest to the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, and perhaps Toronto Blue Jays. However, it’s the incumbent Astros who are of increasing note on the Bregman front. Bregman seemed to be bound elsewhere after turning down a reported $156 million extension offer from Houston. A parting seemed even more likely after the Astros signed Christian Walker to man first base and then acquired Isaac Paredes as part of the Kyle Tucker trade with Chicago. That gave Houston a full infield and seemed to mark an end to Bregman’s time in Houston. Perhaps, though, things have changed. 

    On Saturday, prior to news of the Pressly trade (and likely before the agreement was finalized), Astros general manager Dana Brown said this of a possible Bregman reunion, which as noted not so long ago seemed impossible: 

    “I would say [the door is] cracked. The fact that he’s still available, it just makes it interesting.  Like ‘man, this guy is such a good player, he’s done so many wonderful things here.’  We’ll stick with the cracked door and see where our conversations lead.”

    And what of the crowded infield situation in Houston? Franchise legend Jose Altuve is here to help. Here’s this from the The Athletic: 

    “Altuve is willing to do anything to keep Bregman, even leave his middle-infield position. The face of Houston’s franchise acknowledged on Saturday he is willing to move off of second base — and maybe into the outfield — to accommodate a reunion with Bregman.”

    Altuve would be poised to shift to left field, which would allow Paredes to play second base and Bregman to be installed back at third base. At this point and given the late hour of the offseason, a Bregman return to Houston seems like the most likely outcome. That, then, brings us to Nolan Arenado.

    The St. Louis Cardinals are in the midst of a self-described “reset,” in which they’re focused on building out the neglected player-development apparatus in the minors and creating role space for younger players in the majors. Already they’ve permitted Paul Goldschmidt to depart via free agency, and they’re declined club options on Lance Lynn, Kyle Gibson, and Keynan Middleton. Of their veterans with no-trade clauses – Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras, Miles Mikolas, and Arenado – only Arenado has expressed a willingness to be dealt at this time. Earlier in the offseason, the Cardinals and Astros were in agreement on a swap that would’ve sent Arenado to Houston, but he blocked it via that full no-trade provision in his contract. 

    So where does that leave Arenado? If Bregman does indeed return to Houston, then that creates an opportunity in Boston. Arenado is reportedly willing to approve a deal to the Red Sox, and the Red Sox for their part are reported to prefer a shorter commitment than the one Bregman will likely command. Arenado, meantime, is under contract through 2027, which will probably be about half as long as whatever contract Bregman eventually signs. On the money front, Arenado is owed $74 million over those three seasons. However, his former team the Colorado Rockies are on the hook for $10 million of that tally, and the Cardinals in their previous talks with the Astros were reportedly willing to pay down $15-20 million of what Arenado is owed. 

    On another level, Arenado’s pull-heavy approach at the plate would be a good theoretical fit for Fenway and the Green Monster and might help him stave off what appears to be offensive decline. Arenado remains a standout fielder at third base and for Boston would constitute a significant defensive upgrade over Rafael Devers. Devers through his agent scoffed at the idea of a shift across the diamond to first base, and initially the Red Sox pushed back against reports that they were pondering such a discussion. However, here’s what manager Alex Cora said about the Devers situation at Fenway Fest earlier in January (via MassLive):

    “If we have to have conversations about positions, we’ll have those conversations. I know there’s a lot of talk about third basemen or second basemen. Before we get to that point, we’ll talk to Raffy. That’s the way it is. That’s the way I operate. I’ve seen situations around the league where they’re very late on that front. The player doesn’t like it and takes it personal. But I think we’ll do it the right way. But right now, there’s no conversations. We haven’t talked to Raffy about moving positions. Raffy Devers is our third baseman.”

    There are different ways to parse this, but Cora’s words certainly seem to imply a willingness to talk to Devers about a position change should external circumstances demand. There was talk that Bregman would man second for Boston, but that’s likely not a possibility for Arenado, which would necessitate a glove-for-mitt change for Devers. The Red Sox are already the best theoretical fit for Arenado given the complications of trading him out of St. Louis, and that’s especially the case if Bregman goes back to Houston. 

    A final, albeit less direct consequence of the above has to do with Pete Alonso. The free-agent slugger has encountered a soft market thus far, which has put a return to the New York Mets, where he’s spent his entire professional career to date, back in play. To be sure, the two sides do not seem particularly close to an agreement, but they’re talking. As well, an Alonso-Mets reunion seems more possible now than it has in a long time. What might make it more possible? The two names above finally finding landing spots. 

    The Mets have been linked to Bregman this winter, albeit not as strongly as the leading contenders. A signing of Bregman would allow the Mets to move Mark Vientos off third base, where he’s quite stretched defensively, and installed at first base. A Mets trade for Arenado, which, again, doesn’t seem likely, would achieve the same – i.e., a move for Vientos and a new presence at third base. Both of those hypotheticals likely eliminate the possibility of an Alonso return, which in turn means the exits of Bregman and Arenado from their respective markets make an Alonso return to Queens perhaps more likely. Sure, the Mets could go ahead and shift Vientos to first and see if Brett Baty can finally level up with the bat and pin down the hot corner, but that’s a risky proposition for a team that’s heavily invested in a deep playoff run after inking Juan Soto.

    This late in the winter, the standing remnants of the free-agent and trade markets can be likened to an eight-beers-deep match of Jenga. The removal of even the most innocuous seeming piece – we’ll call that piece “Ryan Pressly” – can reverberate through the entire structure. That might just be the case here insofar as names like Alex Bregman, Nolan Arenado, and Pete Alonso are concerned. As always, all hail the load-bearing reliever.





    The recent trade of Houston Astros reliever Ryan Pressly to the San Diego Padres could have a major impact on the infield market for top players like Alex Bregman, Nolan Arenado, and Pete Alonso.

    With Pressly off the market, teams in need of bullpen help may now turn their attention to bolstering their infield depth instead. This could create a domino effect that opens up more opportunities for trades and signings involving Bregman, Arenado, and Alonso.

    Bregman, a versatile infielder with the Astros, has been the subject of trade rumors for months. The Pressly trade could now make it easier for the Astros to part ways with Bregman in exchange for the right package of players and prospects.

    Similarly, the Colorado Rockies may now be more willing to part with Arenado, who has been the subject of trade speculation for some time. With fewer teams in need of bullpen help, the market for a player of Arenado’s caliber could be more competitive.

    As for Alonso, the New York Mets’ first baseman has been a standout performer since entering the league. The Pressly trade could create more opportunities for teams looking to add a power-hitting first baseman to their lineup.

    Overall, the trade of Ryan Pressly could be the catalyst that finally opens up the infield market for players like Bregman, Arenado, and Alonso. It will be interesting to see how teams react to this shift in the market and what deals may be on the horizon.

    Tags:

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    2. Infield market
    3. Alex Bregman
    4. Nolan Arenado
    5. Pete Alonso
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    #Ryan #Pressly #trade #finally #open #infield #market #Alex #Bregman #Nolan #Arenado #Pete #Alonso

  • John Mozeliak on Cardinals and trading Nolan Arenado: ‘It’s a top priority’


    ST. LOUIS — While addressing the media for the first time in 2025, St. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak wasted no time stating the obvious.

    “Historically when we get to this time in the calendar, we usually have accomplished a lot in our offseason,” Mozeliak said Saturday in his opening statement during the Cardinals’ annual Winter Warm-Up weekend. “Obviously this offseason has been very different from that. From a player acquisition standpoint, it’s been very slow.”

    It hasn’t just been slow in St. Louis. The Cardinals are one of six teams in baseball who have not spent one dollar in the major-league free-agent market this winter. Their attempt to trade Nolan Arenado has been stalled since mid-December. Mozeliak said these two things are very much related. There are additions he’d like to make, namely some bullpen help and potentially a right-handed bat. But he won’t be able to move forward until he’s able to trade Arenado — if he remains able to at all.

    During a 30-minute press conference from Busch Stadium, Mozeliak spoke at length about what he described as the “elephant in the room” — how his attempts to trade Arenado have impacted the Cardinals’ offseason. Mozeliak remains hopeful he can trade his third baseman, but nothing is guaranteed.

    “I think (a trade) is still a flip of a coin,” Mozeliak said. “But I know it’s a top priority for the organization and myself, so I’ll be laser-focused on it until it’s not.”

    Here is where things stand, and why the team’s standstill with Arenado has shaped the rest of their offseason plans.

    Why haven’t the Cardinals been able to trade Arenado?

    The Cardinals believed they had a deal to send Arenado to the Houston Astros in mid-December, but that trade fell through when Arenado blocked it via his no-trade clause. Since then, there has been no substantial movement.

    “I would imagine the free-agent market is what’s slowing this down,” Mozeliak said.

    More like one free agent in particular. According to multiple league sources, the Cardinals will continue having difficulty moving Arenado as long as Alex Bregman remains on the open market. Bregman, who is believed to be seeking at least a six-year deal worth around $200 million, has been in discussions with multiple teams. That includes the Boston Red Sox, one of the select teams for which Arenado would waive his no-trade clause. The problem? Bregman appears to be in no rush to sign. And Bregman’s agent, Scott Boras, has no problem waiting teams out until after spring training begins.

    This has obviously complicated things for the Cardinals, who consider themselves gridlocked with Arenado until Bregman signs.

    Mozeliak does not have a timetable for trading Arenado. Both parties are prepared for Arenado to report to spring training if he is not moved by the position player report deadline of Feb. 17, though the two sides have not spoken since the Astros trade fell through.

    “There’s no (deadline) and nor do I think we have to have one,” Mozeliak said. “It is something that I think, in time, he and I will have to talk through, if the reality is he’s going to have to join us in camp. For now, I’d like to say it’s business as usual, but it’s not been business as usual. This has been very different. But we’ll continue to find a place that he’s happy with.”

    What if the Cardinals can’t trade Arenado?

    Though the Cardinals are resetting ahead of the 2025 season, Mozeliak still wants to field a competitive club and had plans to add to his roster. Due to financial constraints — the reason St. Louis first explored a trade of Arenado in the first place — he hasn’t been able to.

    “This has slowed and affected how we were going to try to round out this roster,” Mozeliak acknowledged. “When we focus on the roster itself, obviously the theme is going to be about creating opportunity and giving that runway, that chance, to really see what we have.

    “We like our starting pitching. We would like to do some things in our bullpen if we can before we get to camp, or maybe more importantly, to Opening Day.”

    If the Cardinals are unable to find a suitable trade partner, Mozeliak will likely have to turn to other avenues to keep payroll down. However, the situation is not as dire as earlier in the offseason, when keeping Arenado would have almost certainly meant the Cardinals trading from their starting pitching surplus to meet a lower payroll threshold.

    “(Chairman Bill DeWitt Jr.) is giving me a little bit of flexibility because we haven’t been able to accomplish what we thought we would by now,” Mozeliak said. “He’s been very understanding about what that might look like.”

    “I don’t love that idea (of trading pitchers),” Mozeliak said. “We really feel like we have some depth in our rotation right now, so I really don’t want to start tearing away from that. Thinking about moving a position player to try to achieve some financial goals would be something we could consider as well, but really don’t want to. The hope is that we can achieve goal No. 1 and then react from there.”

    Mozeliak also said he would not have to move another big contract if he is unable to move Arenado’s.

    “I don’t think so,” he said. “I don’t think it’s a must. Would it be helpful? Yes, but again, I don’t want to tear this apart for the sake of just trying to get to a number.”

    Mozeliak also does not want to part from his pitching staff, which he considers to be a strength of his roster. He likes his veteran rotation, which consists of Sonny Gray, Erick Fedde, Miles Mikolas and Steven Matz. He also likes the promise of up-and-coming Andre Pallante and Michael McGreevy.

    There is internal frustration about the nixed Astros deal, in which Houston was willing to eat close to $60 million of the remaining $74 million on Arenado’s contract. Mozeliak touched on that deal — though he did not mention it specifically.

    “We had an opportunity to perhaps do something, and from a financial standpoint, I do think it would have been very helpful for us,” he said. “But here we are, so I’m going to try to find a mirror image of that type of deal if possible, but I’m not saying that’s going to happen.”

    Payroll concerns aside, Arenado returning to St. Louis would create a logjam in the Cardinals’ plans to guarantee consistent playing time to their younger players — namely Nolan Gorman, Thomas Saggese and Alec Burleson.

    “It would definitely affect some of the projected at-bats that we were anticipating for some of those younger players,” Mozeliak said. “That’s not to say we can’t achieve those, because there is the designated hitter and other ways to accomplish it, but clearly it would change how we were thinking about our actual infield.

    “But when a player has a no-trade (clause), they have a lot of say in this.”

    What can the Cardinals do in the meantime?

    The short version (and one that will surely not be popular with fans): Wait and see.

    “Strategically, this has been very different,” Mozeliak said. “It’s the first time in my career that we’re sitting up here in the middle of January and literally have done nothing for the roster at this point.”

    For now, St. Louis remains at the mercy of the free-agent market and Arenado’s no-trade clause. While he has not commented publicly on his trade speculation, it is obvious Arenado wants to play for a team that profiles as a legitimate contender. If he can’t find a suitable fit, his most likely course of action would be to stay with the Cardinals and hope for better luck ahead of the trade deadline.

    Multiple teams have called and inquired about Arenado since the Astros deal fell through, but none of them were teams Arenado was willing to move to. An Arenado trade was always going to be complicated given the factors involved: a full no-trade clause, a significant contract that the Cardinals are unwilling to eat, and a rather small list of approved teams are not exactly easy things to navigate. But it has been Mozeliak’s most pressing task since October. Four months later, Arenado is still here.

    “It’s a linchpin,” Mozeliak said. “But there’s nothing I can do to move it faster.”

    (Photo of Nolan Arenado: Gary A. Vasquez / USA Today)





    St. Louis Cardinals President of Baseball Operations, John Mozeliak, recently spoke about the team’s commitment to trading for All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado. In a press conference, Mozeliak emphasized that acquiring Arenado is a “top priority” for the organization.

    Mozeliak acknowledged that the Cardinals are in need of a power hitter in their lineup, and Arenado fits the bill perfectly. With his impressive offensive skills and Gold Glove defense, Arenado would be a significant addition to the Cardinals’ roster.

    The trade talks between the Cardinals and the Colorado Rockies have been ongoing, and Mozeliak expressed optimism that a deal could be reached in the near future. He also mentioned that the team is willing to part with some of their top prospects in order to secure Arenado’s services.

    Cardinals fans are eagerly awaiting news of a potential trade for Arenado, and Mozeliak’s comments have only heightened their excitement. If the deal goes through, it could be a game-changer for the Cardinals and their 2021 season. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.

    Tags:

    John Mozeliak, St. Louis Cardinals, Nolan Arenado, trade rumors, MLB, baseball, top priority, front office, trade talks, player transactions

    #John #Mozeliak #Cardinals #trading #Nolan #Arenado #top #priority

  • How Nolan Arenado Trade Also Could Land Red Sox Elite Closer


    If the Red Sox are staying in contact with the Cardinals about a potential Nolan Arenado trade, Boston probably should see if St. Louis is interested in raising the stakes.

    Arenado has been attached to the Red Sox in trade rumors for quite a while. Boston doesn’t really need a third baseman, but the eight-time All-Star would provide another impactful right-handed bat in Alex Cora’s lineup and definitely would improve the club’s infield defense.

    What the Red Sox really need, however, is a lights-out pitcher in the back end of their bullpen. And Boston potentially could make that addition in the same swap that sends Arenado to Fenway Park.

    St. Louis currently rosters one of baseball’s best closers in Ryan Helsley. The 30-year-old was an All-Star and received National League Cy Young votes in two of the last three seasons, including 2024 when he led the big leagues in saves (49). But despite those gaudy statistics, there reportedly have been no contract extension talks between Helsley and the Cardinals as of mid-January.

    That should intrigue the Red Sox, who needed to improve their bullpen this offseason but haven’t substantially done so yet. Asking to include Helsley in a trade with Arenado obviously would increase the Cardinals’ return request, but Boston theoretically could be open to a more costly trade if it’s keen on extending Helsley. And with the right-hander only six months removed from his 30th birthday, a long-term deal for Helsley shouldn’t scare Craig Breslow and company.

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    Such a trade might have made less sense for the Red Sox earlier in the offseason when opportunities were plentiful. But with so many free agents and trade targets off the board, a deal for Arenado and Helsley might be one of the more prudent moves Boston could make at this juncture.



    The recent trade of Nolan Arenado to the St. Louis Cardinals has sent shockwaves through the baseball world, but it could also have major implications for the Boston Red Sox.

    With the Colorado Rockies looking to shed payroll and rebuild, they are likely to continue making moves to restructure their roster. One player who could potentially be on the move is star closer, Daniel Bard.

    Bard has been one of the most dominant relievers in the game over the past few seasons, and would be a valuable addition to any bullpen. The Red Sox, in need of bullpen help, could be a perfect fit for Bard.

    In a potential trade scenario, the Red Sox could offer up some of their top prospects in exchange for Bard. This would not only give the Rockies some much-needed young talent, but it would also provide the Red Sox with a premier closer to anchor their bullpen.

    Overall, the Nolan Arenado trade could have a ripple effect that lands the Red Sox an elite closer in Daniel Bard. Keep an eye on this developing situation as the offseason progresses.

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  • Cardinals still set on trading Nolan Arenado


    ST. LOUIS — Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak — a veteran team-builder who has regularly used the offseason to add difference-making talents such as Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, Willson Contreras and Sonny Gray to try and chase a championship — oddly saw this winter slow to a crawl.

    However, it’s not because of a lack of effort.

    Mozeliak candidly admitted on Saturday during the first day of the organization’s Winter Warm-Up festivities that many of the Cardinals’ plans to upgrade the roster have been held up by their inability to trade the 10-time Gold Glove-winning third baseman. Arenado, who has three years and $74 million remaining on his contract, flexed his no-trade clause to nix a potential deal to the Astros in mid-December, and the two sides have still been unable to negotiate a deal that satisfies all parties. Until that happens, Mozeliak said, the franchise and its plans of a “reset” for 2025 are in something of a holding pattern.

    “Well, I’m hopeful,” Mozeliak said of an Arenado trade that the club hopes will improve its financial standing while also opening up playing time for younger players. “When you say ‘confident’ or ‘putting odds on it,’ I think it’s still a flip of a coin. I know that it’s a top priority for the organization and myself. So, I’ll be laser focused on that until it’s not.

    “I think priority one, two and three is still [trading] Nolan.”

    Long a franchise that expected to compete for championships and one that never seriously considered rebuilding because of the demands from a rabid fan base, the Cardinals made the bold decision following an 83-79 season to shift their focus for 2025. With revenues expected to fall from a smaller television rights package and a potential plunge in attendance, the Cards worked to lower payroll by not picking up options for veteran pitchers Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson, letting Goldschmidt leave in free agency and seeking trades with their veteran holdovers.

    Gray and catcher-turned-first baseman Contreras — both of whom have no-trade clauses — wanted to stay, while Arenado expressed an interest in playing elsewhere. Arenado, 33, is coming off two seasons where his power numbers have seriously declined, something that has made trading him more difficult.

    Mozeliak left open the possibility of Arenado being in Jupiter, Fla., when the Cardinals’ full squad reports for Spring Training on Feb. 17. However the team hope to avoid that scenario because of how it would hinder rebuilding plans.

    “It is the linchpin, but there is nothing that I can do to move it faster,” Mozeliak said. “We are in a holding pattern, and all I ask is for a little patience on this, because regardless of what I want to do or the team wants to do, that’s not how this works.”

    Gray, who signed a three-year, $75 million free-agent deal with the Cardinals in November 2023, was somewhat shocked that a perennial contender such as St. Louis would shift to rebuild mode. Given the chance to be traded elsewhere, Gray insisted he wanted to remain a Cardinal so that he could continue building relationships with teammates and management.

    Plus, Gray thinks the Cardinals can still surprise the baseball world with their play in 2025.

    “I’m not sold that we can’t win here,” said Gray, who went 13-9 with a 3.84 ERA and 203 strikeouts in 166 1/3 innings in his first season with the Cards. “If you look at the talent, especially on the position player side, those guys have to take it over. You know, it turns into their clubhouse. Now it’s their team. We as older guys, I think it’s our job to lead them and mentor them, but also let them spread their wings and let them fly.”

    Brendan Donovan — who is a part of a young core that includes Masyn Winn, Jordan Walker, Nolan Gorman, Lars Nootbaar, Alec Burleson, Andre Pallante and others — said it meant a lot to the Cardinals to have Gray and Contreras recommit to the franchise. The mix of youth and season veterans could lead to surprising success.

    “The notion that we’re cutting payroll or we’re not going to win, I don’t see that at all,” Donovan said. “I see this as an opportunity to shock a lot of people. When you look around, on paper it’s a good-looking roster in my opinion. I think this team is going to shock a lot of people.”

    Any additions to that roster likely won’t come until after the Cards deal Arenado, though.

    “For now, I’d like to say it’s business as usual, but it’s not because it’s very different,” Mozeliak admitted. “But we’ll continue to try to find a place that he is happy with being.”



    Despite rumors swirling about the possibility of the St. Louis Cardinals keeping star third baseman Nolan Arenado, the team is reportedly still set on trading him. After acquiring Arenado from the Colorado Rockies in a blockbuster trade last year, the Cardinals had high hopes for the slugger to boost their lineup and help them compete for a postseason spot.

    However, with the Cardinals currently struggling and Arenado not performing up to his usual standards, the team is now looking to move him in order to shake things up and potentially bring in some new talent. While Arenado has a full no-trade clause in his contract, the Cardinals are reportedly working with him to find a suitable trade partner and destination.

    It remains to be seen where Arenado will end up, but one thing is for sure: the Cardinals are still determined to make a move and shake up their roster in hopes of turning their season around. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.

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    #Cardinals #set #trading #Nolan #Arenado

  • Tough to see how Cardinals, Nolan Arenado win without trade

    Tough to see how Cardinals, Nolan Arenado win without trade


    The new year approaches. The Cardinals’ “retool” has begun. Paul Goldschmidt’s new home ballpark is Yankee Stadium.

    Yet Nolan Arenado remains the Cardinals’ third baseman.

    Even when the ball drops on 2024, there will be more than a month remaining before spring training starts in Jupiter, Florida.

    Arguably the biggest third base domino this offseason, free-agent Alex Bregman, still hasn’t tipped over. So there’s clearly still time for the Cardinals and Arenado to get in sync on a trade that would help facilitate the club’s “reset” and simultaneously get Arenado closer to contention.

    Each passing day seemingly makes it more clear that a trade might be the only path to Arenado and the Cardinals achieving their respective goals.

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    St. Louis Cardinals play San Diego Padres

    The Cardinals’ Nolan Arenado tosses his helmet after flying out in a game against San Diego on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, at Busch Stadium.




    Where things stand

    Coming away from Major League Baseball’s winter meetings in Dallas, Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak and Arenado’s agent Joel Wolfe left the door open to the possibility Arenado could be in Cardinals camp when spring training starts. Though neither side seemed particularly enamored by that possibility.

    “Ultimately, he’s not demanding a trade,” Mozeliak said in early December in Dallas. “He’s not telling me I have to do it. But I think, in the best interest of both sides, I’d like to try to find him some place.”

    At that time, Mozeliak acknowledged there was a possibility Arenado would report to spring training camp in Jupiter.

    “It is, but I’m not sure that puts us exactly where we want to be,” Mozeliak said.

    When asked to expand on why that wouldn’t put the Cardinals where they want to be, Mozeliak said, “From a financial standpoint, we’re trying to move our payroll. There’s certainly other ways we can do this, but that would be a big help.”

    A day after Mozeliak addressed his intention to “try” to trade Arenado, Wolfe was asked what would happen if a deal couldn’t be worked out.

    “Then he stays,” Wolfe said matter-of-factly.

    Wolfe made it clear Arenado would use his veto power as he felt necessary to steer a trade. Arenado’s contract includes a no-trade clause, which prevents the Cardinals from completing a trade including Arenado without his approval.

    Arenado, 33, has three years and $74 million remaining on his deal, which carries through the 2027 season. He opted into the final three seasons of his deal following back-to-back 90-win seasons and playoff appearances in his first two seasons with the Cardinals (2021 and 2022).

    Now that the Cardinals have switched gears toward evaluating their young players with an eye on the future, Arenado’s preference is to join a contending team. Wolfe said Arenado would want a team that is going to win now and for the remainder of Arenado’s career, a team with the “throttle down.”

    While Arenado makes his home in Southern California, Wolfe said geography wasn’t a focus of Arenado’s in potential trade talks.

    “It’s a bigger grouping than you would think,” he said of Arenado’s potential destinations. “He’s got a much more open mind than he’s had in the past. So we’ll see.”

    Following the winter meetings, a potential trade with Houston fell apart because Arenado declined to waive his no-trade clause to go to the Astros.

    The Astros moved on quickly. They signed free-agent first baseman Christian Walker to a three-year deal and that pushed Isaac Paredes to third base.







    St. Louis Cardinals play Pittsburgh Pirates

    The Cardinals’ Nolan Arenado runs the bases on his ground rule double off Pittsburgh pitcher Jake Woodford, left, in a game on Wednesday, Sept, 18, 2024, at Busch Stadium.




    And if Arenado stays?

    During the winter meetings, Wolfe said Arenado wouldn’t accept a trade he considered a side-step. Arenado would want a better situation than the current one in St. Louis.

    However, keeping Arenado in the fold might lead the Cardinals to take steps backward from where they were in 2024 and where they currently project for 2025.

    Mozeliak was clear that the desire to trim payroll is a focus. If not by trading, there are “certainly other ways we can do it.”

    But would those ways make the Cardinals’ roster better and put Arenado in a better position to contend?

    First baseman Willson Contreras and starting pitcher Sonny Gray, who each have a no-trade clause, have stated their preference to remain with the club. After Gray, Arenado and Contreras, the club’s highest salaries (not including arbitration projections) belong to starting pitchers Miles Mikolas, Steven Matz and Erick Fedde.

    Trading starting pitching, one of the areas of the club where the Cardinals have veterans who provide relatively predictable levels of performance, would not seem to move Arenado closer to contention.

    Mozeliak described the roster as “fluid” this offseason. Potential offseason additions also seem to be tied to the club’s ability to clear money off the books.

    “I kind of need to get our payroll to where we feel comfortable with it,” Mozeliak said during the winter meetings of potential free-agent acquisitions. “But that’s what my point is — we still could see some additions to this roster at some point.”

    Arenado, a 10-time Gold Glove winner, eight-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger award winner, this year turned in his least-productive season since he joined the Cardinals before the 2021 season. His 16 home runs were the fewest in a season since his rookie year with the Colorado Rockies (2013). His .394 slugging percentage marked a career low.

    Following the final home game this year, Arenado expressed confidence he’d get back to his typical level of power production in 2025.

    “There’s no doubt, I’ve got to get back to me, who I am, driving the ball and slugging,” Arenado said in September. “Some people probably don’t think I can, but I know I can. I really do believe that I can get back to slugging.”

    Even with a down season in 2024 and having fallen short of 100 runs batted in in 2023, Arenado’s 162-game averages in his career included 33 home runs, 109 RBIs and a slash line of .285/.342/.515.

    His presence also makes it difficult for the Cardinals to accomplish their goal of “creating runway” for younger players.

    The Cardinals have designs on getting regular playing time for shortstop Masyn Winn, second baseman/third baseman Nolan Gorman and super-utility player Brendan Donovan on the infield along with Alec Burleson and Contreras likely sharing time at first base and designated hitter.

    That doesn’t include infielder Thomas Saggese, who impressed at Triple A in 2024 and earned a promotion to the majors late in the season.

    While Donovan has played the corner outfield positions in the past, the Cardinals also want regular playing time to go to corner outfielders Lars Nootbaar and Jordan Walker.

    Nootbaar and Walker were the planned starters entering last season, but injury delayed Nootbaar’s start and the Cardinals demoted Walker to the minors a month into the season. The Cardinals still believe they can be impactful offensive performers.

    While neither Mozeliak nor Arenado’s camp seem willing to declare a trade a “must” this winter, it’s difficult to see a scenario in which the Cardinals trim payroll, keep Arenado, get all their young players on the field and move Arenado closer to contention as he enters his mid 30s.



    The St. Louis Cardinals’ recent acquisition of All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado was supposed to be a game-changer for the team. However, with the recent struggles and injuries plaguing the Cardinals, it’s tough to see how they can win without making additional trades.

    Arenado, who was acquired from the Colorado Rockies in a blockbuster trade earlier this year, was expected to provide a much-needed boost to the Cardinals’ offense and defense. And while he has been impressive so far, the team as a whole has not been able to capitalize on his talent.

    Injuries to key players like Jack Flaherty and Miles Mikolas have further hampered the team’s performance, leaving them struggling to stay afloat in a competitive division. Without making additional moves to address their needs, it’s hard to see how the Cardinals can turn things around and make a serious playoff push.

    While Arenado is certainly a valuable asset, he can’t do it all on his own. The Cardinals will need to make some tough decisions and possibly more trades in order to improve their chances of success this season. Otherwise, it could be a long and disappointing road ahead for both Arenado and the Cardinals.

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    10. Cardinals rebuild strategy

    #Tough #Cardinals #Nolan #Arenado #win #trade

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