Over the past few months, the St. Louis Cardinals have found themselves at the center of trade rumors involving veteran third baseman Nolan Arenado—and for good reason.
As the team appears to be shifting toward a new era, moving on from Arenado and his hefty contract would seem like a logical step. However, his full no-trade clause has made any potential deal far more complicated. And now, trading him may not be as sensible as it once seemed.
For one, the Cardinals have little leverage. Any trade involving Arenado would likely be a salary dump, executed on his terms. That scenario makes it unlikely St. Louis would receive the kind of top-tier prospect return a player of his caliber typically commands. If Arenado were willing to consider a broader range of destinations, the Cardinals could regain some control and potentially make a more balanced deal.
Additionally, Arenado is one of the few players on the roster with a large contract, and St. Louis isn’t under pressing financial strain. While trading him would free up payroll, there’s no urgent sign the club is looking to reinvest that money immediately.
While much of the baseball world still expects Arenado to be moved before the trade deadline, there’s a real possibility the Cardinals surprise everyone and decide to keep their star third baseman beyond it.
