Whereas the Astros have been intent on making an attempt to re-sign Alex Bregman this offseason, the membership landed a possible third base backup possibility in Isaac Paredes and is now an excellent larger possibility on the sizzling nook. The Athletic’s Chandler Rome stories that Houston has “emerged as a critical suitor for” Nolan Arenado’s providers, although a commerce isn’t “believed to be imminent.”
Because the Cardinals wish to create extra taking part in time for youthful gamers and scale back payroll, the membership has been open about its makes an attempt to commerce Arenado this offseason. The third baseman has a full no-trade clause however is open to waiving it in the precise scenario, as agent Joel Wolfe careworn that Arenado is simply keen to go away St. Louis for “a crew that he thinks goes to win now and constantly for the rest of his profession. He needs a crew that has the throttle down … that he believes he can bounce proper in and so they’re going to win proper now.”
The Astros would seemingly match that description as longtime playoff regulars who’re making an attempt to maintain their competition window, however it’s unclear if Arenado would have curiosity in going to Houston. The Dodgers, Padres, Angels, Phillies, Mets and Crimson Sox are the six groups Arenado would reportedly be keen to play for, nevertheless it isn’t identified if any golf equipment past this group would additionally meet his approval for a waiver of his no-trade privileges.
Past the no-trade clause, the Astros and Cardinals additionally should work out the phrases of the particular deal, and funds might current an impediment. Rome writes that “the Astros will ask the Cardinals to assist pay down” the $74M owed to Arenado over the ultimate three years of his contract. (Solely $64M is technically the Playing cards’ duty, because the Rockies are overlaying $10M of that determine as per the time period of the 2021 commerce that introduced Arenado from Colorado to St. Louis.) Whether or not or not the Cardinals are keen to cowl any of Arenado’s wage is an open query, and if that’s the case, it’ll be a matter of whether or not they can match figures with the Astros or every other suitor, or if St. Louis is keen to tackle an undesirable contract as wage offset.
Some extra baggage would possibly stand in a manner of an Astros/Cardinals commerce specifically. Former Cardinals scouting director Chris Correa was discovered responsible in federal court docket over costs of illegally accessing the Astros’ proprietary baseball operations database in 2013 and 2014, and MLB punished the Cardinals by forcing them to present $2M and their prime picks within the 2017 draft to the Astros as punishment. Although Houston’s entrance workplace has since been overhauled and Chaim Bloom is ready to exchange John Mozeliak subsequent 12 months because the Playing cards’ subsequent president of baseball operations, the 2 groups haven’t accomplished a commerce with different since 2012, hinting at some lingering unhealthy blood.
Astros GM Dana Brown mentioned Friday that the crew’s determination to commerce Kyle Tucker (and get Paredes again within the commerce bundle from the Cubs) didn’t point out that something modified in Houston’s pursuit of a reunion with Bregman. KPRC’s Ari Alexander additionally hears from a supply that the Astros stay amongst “the robust 4” prime contenders for Bregman together with the Crimson Sox, Mets and Yankees, with the Tigers and Blue Jays additionally linked to Bregman’s market.
Technically, a state of affairs exists the place Houston might re-sign Bregman, set up Arenado at first base, after which have Paredes at DH at any time when Yordan Alvarez is in left discipline. However, extra realistically, buying and selling for Arenado would certainly shut the door on the probabilities of a reunion between Bregman and the Astros. Stories have indicated that Houston has provided Bregman a six-year, $156M contract, but when he and his camp have indicated {that a} bigger outlay is critical, which may clarify why the Astros now have given extra consideration to Arenado for the reason that finish of Winter Conferences. With at the least the Mets, Yankees and Crimson Sox in on each third basemen, it make sense that the Astros would additionally discover each choices out of due diligence.
