Why the St. Louis Cardinals are having trouble finding a trade for Nolan Arenado

MLB Trade Rumors: Why the St. Louis Cardinals are having trouble finding a trade for Nolan Arenado

After a dismal several seasons, the St. Louis Cardinals have decided to retool their roster this offseason by offloading some of their older players, like Nolan Arenado, in an effort to go younger. With less than a month until the start of Spring Training, Arenado is still a part of the Cardinals organization, despite the fact that several teams are in need of a third baseman.

The veteran third baseman's complete no-trade clause, which gives him the ability to choose which team he will play for in 2025, is one complicating element that keeps standing in the way of any possible Arenado trade. 

In light of this, MLB Network's Jon Morosi stated that the Cardinals might need to get ready for the prospect that Arenado will still be on the team when they start Spring Training.

"The likelihood that Arenado will still be with the St. Louis Cardinals when the Cardinals get to Jupiter, Florida for Spring Training keeps getting better," Morosi stated.

For clubs in need of a third baseman, the Cardinals' Nolan Arenado might be an undervalued acquisition.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres, Philadelphia Phillies, and Los Angeles Angels are the teams on Nolan Arenado's rumored trade wish list. Arenado has earned the right to select his next destination thanks to his outstanding play over the most of his career. The Cardinals' third baseman will aid the Mets, Red Sox, and Angels—the first two of which are contending clubs in 2025—improve their third-base situations.

Unfortunately, Morosi stated that it's difficult to identify a team that still has funds available to pay the remaining $74 million on Arenado's deal for the following three seasons. 

The Cardinals' situation is further complicated by the fact that Alex Bregman, the finest third baseman available, is still a free agent and would be a more significant addition than Arenado.

"We wonder how many baseball teams have the payroll capacity and flexibility to add a player who is genuinely coming off a poor offensive season on January 29th." Morosi went on.

The Cardinals should eventually find a reasonable deal because Arenado was still an unquestionably good player the previous season and is still a great defender at the hot corner.