2:24PM: In a follow-up message from Olney on X, he hears from rival executives that the Cardinals will most likely need to 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 needed Arenado, Chris Taylor and the $17MM remaining on his contract might be supplied again to St. Louis to assist cowl the monetary distinction. It isn’t identified whether or not or not the Cardinals can be open to consuming cash or taking an undesirable contract again, which might 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 group has already made some strikes with a watch in direction of decreasing payroll. Buying and selling Nolan Arenado will surely be simply in regards to 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 tough resulting from his no-trade clause.
To that finish, ESPN’s Buster Olney (X hyperlink) writes that Arenado has “a really restricted record of…most well-liked groups” for potential trades. This in flip has left the Cardinals with out a ton of leverage find a perfect commerce match that might assist the Playing cards recoup one thing past simply wage reduction for the All-Star third baseman.
Earlier reviews with reference 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 group. These two objects characterize the difficult 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 identified 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 doable that the Arenado state of affairs might need knowledgeable Mozeliak’s feedback in regards to the group having “each intention of fielding an excellent baseball group” in 2025. Willson Contreras has already let the Playing cards know he isn’t waiving his no-trade safety, and so St. Louis nonetheless needed extra time for Ivan Herrera and Pedro Pages at catcher, the pivot transfer was putting in Contreras because the group’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 resulting from 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 less-likely commerce candidate, additional indicating that St. Louis may try and rebuild on the fly whereas nonetheless competing within the NL Central. After all, Mozeliak’s stance on Helsley is also gamesmanship to drive up provides, 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 third-base needy groups an alternative choice. None of this may actually change issues if Arenado merely isn’t prepared to develop his record past that “very restricted” quantity, however a brand new group out of the blue having a necessity at third base may maybe persuade Arenado in any other case.
