February 15, 2025
Cardinals GM: Trading Nolan Arenado remains a priority this offseason

Cardinals GM: Trading Nolan Arenado remains a priority this offseason

As the offseason began, the Cardinals made it clear they wanted to acquire the perennial All-Star Nolan Arenado, And about a month before the teams meet for winter training, that remains the case.

Speaking to the media on the first day of the Cardinals’ winter warm-up on Saturday, GM said John Mozeliak made his priorities clear when it comes to the team’s offseason moves.

“I think priority one, two and three is still Nolan,” Mozeliak said, via the Belleville News-Democrat.

The Cardinals want to get out of the money that is in Arenado. The third baseman begins his season at age 34 and has three years left on his contract at $74 million. However, the Rockies — who traded Arenado to St. Louis — are on the hook for a portion of the contract, lowering Arenado’s commitment to about $60 million over the last three seasons.

“[Trading Arenado] “Gives us some financial flexibility to maybe expand areas that we haven’t been able to do before,” Mozeliak said. “So obviously bullpen, if we decided to look for a right-handed hitter with some punch, something like that. “But it actually gives us some financial relief, especially in a stressful environment.”

Mozeliak apparently had a deal with the Houston Astros to send Arenado there as a replacement Alex Bregmanbut Arenado used his no-trade clause to block it. Arenado said he wanted more time to assess the Astros’ situation following the team’s trade Kyle Tucker to the Cubs that same week.

With no deal in sight, this could open the door for the Yankees, who are looking for another infielder.

The Yankees reportedly inquired with the Cardinals about a possible Arenado trade earlier this offseason. However, the talks fell through when St. Louis showed no interest in taking over Marcus Stroman‘s contract.

Stroman is expected to make about $18.3 million in 2025 and has a vesting option of the same amount in 2026 if he throws 140 innings next season.

The Yankees have signed the first baseman Paul Goldschmidt in December, who spent the last few seasons playing with Arenado in St. Louis, and it’s reported that Goldschmidt could persuade Arenado to forego his no-trade and come to the Bronx.

While the Yankees reportedly don’t believe Arenado is a good fit for them, the fact remains that they still have a hole in their infield, but Stroman’s contract appears to be holding them back.

New York wants to free up Stroman’s money to sign another infielder, and reportedly “not a particularly expensive one.” Arenado’s contract wouldn’t fall into that price range, but if the Cardinals’ priority is to sell their third baseman, there could be an opportunity for a possible trade.

In the meantime, Mozeliak and the Cardinals are waiting to see how free agency plays out, particularly when it comes to the third base market. Bregman is the top free agent third baseman and is out of contract. Mozeliak believes Arenado’s market will shape up after his signing – although Mozeliak didn’t mention Bregman by name.

“I could imagine the free agent market slowing that down,” Mozeliak said when asked why there hasn’t been a deal for Arenado yet. “In many ways, I expected this early on. Depending on where he goes, the underbidders might be interested [in Arenado].”

The Cardinals’ first full squad training session is scheduled for February 17th.

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