Even though St. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak stated at the MLB team’s Winter Warm-Up event, that trading third baseman Nolan Arenado was a priority, it seems increasingly likely that the player will continue wearing a Cardinals uniform.
According to MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi, Nolan Arenado is expected to remain with the team even as spring training begins in mid-February. Morosi points to several factors complicating St. Louis’ attempts to trade him, including his high salary.
Katie Woo of The Athletic reported in early January that the Cardinals were unwilling to absorb a significant portion of Arenado’s remaining contract—three years, $74 million, with $10 million covered by the Rockies—just to facilitate a trade. Additionally, the availability of fellow third baseman Alex Bregman, who remains a free agent, appears to be impacting the demand for Arenado.
“How many teams in baseball on the 29th of January have that kind of payroll capacity and flexibility to add a player who is, candidly, coming off a down offensive year?“ Morosi questioned. “Especially with Bregman still out there as a possibility for any number of teams. The longer this thing goes without Bregman having resolution, I have a hard time finding Arenado a spot as to where he is going to land.”
Nolan Arenado #28 of the St. Louis Cardinals fields the ball against the Kansas City Royals in the third inning during game two of a doubleheader at Busch Stadium on July 10, 2024 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
No-trade clause and limited market: The obstacles for the Cardinals
Arenado’s full no-trade clause is another hurdle for the Cardinals. The team reportedly had an agreement in place to send him to the Houston Astros in December, but the third baseman exercised his veto power to block the deal. It’s unclear whether Arenado would waive his no-trade rights for a team outside his preferred list of destinations.
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This restriction significantly limits the Cardinals’ trade options as they search for a team that meets both Arenado’s preferences and has the financial flexibility to take on his contract.
The Alex Bregman factor in MLB free agency
Bregman’s presence on the MLB free-agent market further complicates the situation. Teams in need of a third baseman may be more inclined to wait for Bregman, who could present a more affordable and less restrictive alternative to acquiring Arenado.
