The St. Louis Cardinals are eager to trade Nolan Arenado, something front office executive John Mozeliak has openly acknowledged. However, finding a trade partner has proven difficult, especially after Arenado used his no-trade clause to reject a deal with the Houston Astros.
At one point, the Cardinals and Red Sox were close to an agreement, but the same obstacle that has plagued St. Louis all offseason remained—how much of Arenado’s contract the team was willing to cover. The primary reason for trading him is financial relief, so if the Cardinals still have to pay most of his salary, they see little benefit in moving him.
Arenado has also been selective with potential destinations. He turned down Houston and reportedly isn’t interested in teams like the Detroit Tigers, limiting his trade options. He enjoys living in St. Louis and isn’t eager to relocate his family without a compelling reason.
One team he does have interest in is the New York Yankees. However, for a deal to work, St. Louis would have had to take on Marcus Stroman’s contract—something the Cardinals refused to do, as it would contradict their goal of shedding payroll. Arenado’s declining performance in 2024 has also made teams hesitant to absorb his contract without additional incentives, such as prospects or financial concessions.
New York Yankees won’t trade for Nolan Arenado after Luis Gil injury
Any potential Yankees trade involving Stroman fell apart on Monday when pitcher Luis Gil was ruled out for at least six months due to a high-grade lat strain. Initially, Stroman was expected to start the season in the bullpen, a role he wasn’t happy about, but with Gil sidelined, he is now likely to rejoin the rotation.
Gil, the 2024 AL Rookie of the Year, posted a 3.50 ERA and 3.1 WAR in 29 starts. Meanwhile, Stroman had a 4.30 ERA over the same number of starts and was widely considered on his way out of New York. While Stroman never wished injury upon a teammate, Gil’s setback has secured him another opportunity with the Yankees—effectively shutting the door on any potential trade for Arenado.