Trade discussions for St. Louis Cardinals star third baseman Nolan Arenado are gaining momentum. The recent blockbuster deal sending Juan Soto to the New York Mets, coupled with the kickoff of the MLB Winter Meetings in Dallas, Texas, has accelerated negotiations.
Trade Talks Heating Up For Star Third Baseman
Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak provided a small update to reporters on the first day of the Winter Meetings. According to Katie Woo of The Athletic and Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Mozeliak stated that he “intends to try” to trade Nolan Arenado but does not expect a deal to be finalized during the meetings this week.
Both Katie Woo and Derrick Goold reported that Nolan Arenado has not requested a trade from John Mozeliak. However, the Cardinals’ executive is looking to negotiate a deal that benefits both sides. This effort is essential, as Arenado holds a no-trade clause and must approve any trade the Cardinals pursue.
Conversations Heating Up
John Mozeliak told reporters that he expects Juan Soto’s signing to influence the trade market, as teams that missed out on him will now look for other significant moves. With Soto off the market, these teams will be eager to make a backup splash.
Both Katie Woo and Derrick Goold reported that the Cardinals have been in talks with several teams, between three and five. One of these teams is the New York Yankees, the club Soto recently left.
The future of Houston Astros free agent third baseman Alex Bregman could also play a role in shaping the trade landscape. However, Mozeliak believes a deal for Arenado will be reached before Spring Training.
Both Sides Motivated To Move On
The Cardinals have already reduced a significant portion of their payroll this offseason, but they’re looking to cut even more. Nolan Arenado has $64 million remaining on his contract, and the team may need to retain some of that salary to facilitate a trade, especially given that he’s coming off the worst season of his career.
The organization is entering a new phase focused on developing young talent and giving emerging players more opportunities at the Major League level. While the front office isn’t labeling this a rebuild, it marks a shift from the previous years of aiming to field a World Series contender.
Arenado has limited postseason experience, playing in just eight postseason games over 12 seasons with the Rockies and Cardinals, and he has never reached a League Championship Series. If the Cardinals aren’t in a position to make a deep playoff run, he would prefer to be traded. Mozeliak did mention that keeping Arenado is a possibility, but he acknowledged that this isn’t the preferred option for either side.
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