2:24PM: In a follow-up message from Olney on X, he hears from rival executives that the Cardinals will most likely should cowl a few of Arenado’s wage or take again one other unfavorable contract as a wage offset. As a hypothetical, Olney means that if the Dodgers wished Arenado, Chris Taylor and the $17MM remaining on his contract may very well be supplied again to St. Louis to assist cowl the monetary distinction. It isn’t recognized whether or not or not the Cardinals can be open to consuming cash or taking an undesirable contract again, which may very well be an extra impediment in direction of a commerce being accomplished.
2:04PM: Latest feedback from president of baseball operations John Mozeliak point out that the Cardinals will not be completely viewing 2025 as a rebuild 12 months, although the staff has already made some strikes with an eye fixed in direction of lowering payroll. Buying and selling Nolan Arenado would definitely be simply concerning the largest transfer St. Louis may make in that effort to get youthful and cheaper, although past simply the $74MM in owed wage, transferring Arenado is troublesome because of his no-trade clause.
To that finish, ESPN’s Buster Olney (X hyperlink) writes that Arenado has “a really restricted listing of…most popular groups” for potential trades. This in flip has left the Cardinals with out a ton of leverage to find an excellent commerce match that might assist the Playing cards recoup one thing past simply wage aid for the All-Star third baseman.
Earlier experiences with regard to Arenado this offseason indicated that he hasn’t instantly requested for a commerce, however he can be prepared to maneuver to first base if such a defensive swap is a greater match for a brand new staff. These two gadgets characterize the sophisticated nature of those commerce talks, as Arenado is seemingly able to be very versatile and accommodating of a commerce, however solely to some golf equipment. It isn’t recognized precisely what number of groups Arenado is prepared to waive his no-trade safety to affix, or what number of of these groups have their very own curiosity in Arenado as a commerce candidate.
It’s attainable that the Arenado scenario may need knowledgeable Mozeliak’s feedback concerning the group having “each intention of fielding baseball staff” in 2025. Willson Contreras has already let the Playing cards know he isn’t waiving his no-trade safety, and so St. Louis nonetheless wished extra time for Ivan Herrera and Pedro Pages at catcher, the pivot transfer was putting in Contreras as the staff’s new common first baseman. Sonny Grey additionally has a no-trade clause that he reportedly isn’t eager on waiving, complicating the Cardinals’ efforts to maneuver on from the final two years of Grey’s contract.
If buying and selling Arenado can be going to be unfeasible because of a slender market, the Cardinals would possibly’ve determined towards completely punting on the 2025 season. Pending free agent Ryan Helsley now appears to be a less-likely commerce candidate, additional indicating that St. Louis would possibly try to rebuild on the fly whereas nonetheless competing within the NL Central. After all, Mozeliak’s stance on Helsley is also gamesmanship to drive up gives, and it’s nonetheless early sufficient within the offseason that the Playing cards would possibly once more change lanes relying on how the commerce and free agent markets develop within the subsequent few months.
As an illustration, the third base market will likely be altered as soon as Alex Bregman and (within the occasion of a place change) Willy Adames signal their subsequent contracts. The Phillies are additionally recognized to be purchasing Alec Bohm, giving third-base needy groups an alternative choice. None of this would possibly actually change issues if Arenado merely isn’t prepared to develop his listing past that “very restricted” quantity, however a brand new staff all of a sudden having a necessity at third base may maybe persuade Arenado in any other case.
