JUST NOW: Cardinals’ $52 Million Infielder Likely to Stay Amid Cooling Trade Market

A few weeks ago, reports suggested the St. Louis Cardinals were looking to trade their starting third baseman and Gold Glove recipient, Nolan Arenado.

However, with over $50 million remaining on his contract, trading Arenado is proving to be challenging. Adding to the difficulty is Arenado’s no-trade clause, which gives him the power to choose his destination if he decides to be traded. Initially, the trade market seemed to include six teams: the Los Angeles Angels, Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, and San Diego Padres. But after several weeks of trying to move the star infielder, it’s increasingly likely the Cardinals will hold onto him for 2025.

When considering the six teams Arenado would be willing to go to, the list narrows further. The Red Sox already have Rafael Devers at third base, so the only possible trade would involve moving Devers to first base and dealing first baseman Triston Casas. But with the recent signing of Walker Buehler, it seems Casas is staying put in Boston. The Phillies, who had considered trading Alec Bohm to acquire a top pitcher, recently traded for Jesús Luzardo without dealing Bohm, so he’ll likely remain in Philadelphia. The Dodgers appear uninterested unless Arenado could be acquired for nearly nothing, which would require the Cardinals covering most of his salary—questioning whether it’s worth it for St. Louis. The Padres, with a strong infield core, seem unlikely as well. The Mets could be a potential match if they miss out on Pete Alonso, and the Angels could be another possibility. However, the market for Arenado is now looking significantly smaller, with Arenado reportedly declining a trade to the Houston Astros and the New York Yankees failing to meet the Cardinals’ asking price. Will any team make a move for Arenado this winter?