MLB Trade Rumors: St. Louis Cardinals Face Familiar Roadblock in Nolan Arenado Trade Talks
Months have passed since the St. Louis Cardinals began fielding questions about Nolan Arenado’s future, but the situation remains largely unchanged. The team is still teetering between a retool and a rebuild, and Arenado remains both a valuable asset and a financial hurdle. While parting ways could benefit both sides, money remains the primary obstacle.
The Cost of Moving Arenado
As ESPN’s David Schoenfield noted in a recent piece looking ahead to the 2025 trade deadline, the Cardinals' chances of finding a trade partner for Arenado hinge on one key factor:
“If the Cardinals pay down some of the contract, they could probably find Arenado a new home.”
Arenado’s early-season performance has been promising — he’s slashing .288 with a 140 OPS+, drawing more walks than strikeouts, and playing Gold Glove-caliber defense at third base. But his contract is hefty: $32 million in 2025, $27 million in 2026, and $15 million in 2027. That financial commitment complicates his trade market, even for teams in need.
Who Could Make a Move?
Several potential trade destinations are already being floated, with ESPN listing a few of the more obvious fits:
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Chicago Cubs: A surprise name considering the rivalry, but one with logic. Rookie Matt Shaw has struggled and was recently optioned, leaving a hole at third base.
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Philadelphia Phillies: Alec Bohm is off to a rough start (.193 average, 0 HR), and Arenado could provide a big upgrade if the Phillies remain in contention.
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New York Yankees: Production at third has been lackluster, with just one home run from the position so far. Arenado's bat and glove would be an ideal fit for a deep postseason run.
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Toronto Blue Jays: Toronto is also dealing with underperformance at the hot corner and could use a veteran presence in a highly competitive AL East.
A Waiting Game
With July still months away, it’s too early to know which of these teams will remain in the playoff picture. But if the Cardinals want to move Arenado, they'll need to be flexible — especially when it comes to eating a chunk of his salary. Otherwise, they risk holding onto a depreciating asset during a transition year.
Let me know if you want this turned into a team-by-team trade analysis or a mock deal breakdown for Arenado.
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