Latest feedback from president of baseball operations John Mozeliak point out that the Cardinals is probably not completely viewing 2025 as a rebuild 12 months, although the crew has already made some strikes with a watch towards lowering payroll. Buying and selling Nolan Arenado would definitely be simply concerning the largest transfer St. Louis might make in that effort to get youthful and cheaper, although past simply the $74M in owed wage, transferring Arenado is troublesome as a result of his no-trade clause.
To that finish, ESPN’s Buster Olney writes that Arenado has “a really restricted listing of…most well-liked groups” for potential trades. This in flip has left the Cardinals with no ton of leverage to find a really perfect commerce match that may assist them recoup one thing past simply wage reduction for the All-Star third baseman.
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experiences in regard to Arenado this offseason indicated that he hasn’t straight requested for a commerce, however he can be keen to maneuver to first base if such a defensive swap is a greater match for a brand new crew. These two objects symbolize the difficult nature of those commerce talks, as Arenado is seemingly able to be very versatile and accommodating of a commerce, however solely to a couple golf equipment. It isn’t identified precisely what number of groups Arenado is keen to waive his no-trade safety to hitch, or what number of of these groups have their very own curiosity in Arenado as a commerce candidate.
It’s potential that the Arenado scenario may need knowledgeable Mozeliak’s feedback concerning the group having “each intention of fielding a very good baseball crew” 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 because the crew’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 also be going to be unfeasible as a result of a slim market, the Cardinals may’ve determined towards completely punting on the 2025 season. Pending free agent Ryan Helsley now appears to be a much less possible commerce candidate, additional indicating that St. Louis may try to rebuild on the fly whereas nonetheless competing within the NL Central. In fact, Mozeliak’s stance on Helsley is also gamesmanship to drive up affords, and it’s nonetheless early sufficient within the offseason that the Playing cards may 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 shall 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 identified to be procuring Alec Bohm, giving 3B-needy groups an alternative choice. None of this may actually change issues if Arenado merely isn’t keen to develop his listing past that “very restricted” quantity, however a brand new crew out of the blue having a necessity at third base might maybe persuade Arenado in any other case.
