John Mozeliak and the St. Louis Cardinals had been upfront about their intention to trade veteran third baseman and perennial Gold Glove winner Nolan Arenado this offseason. The team’s focus on shedding salary and starting a rebuild with younger players made moving Arenado appear to be the most logical step.
At one point, it seemed the Cardinals had found a trade partner in the Houston Astros, with a deal reportedly agreed upon. However, Arenado thwarted their plans by exercising his no-trade clause. The initial thought was that St. Louis and Arenado could revisit a deal with Houston later as free agency unfolded.
But the Astros weren’t willing to wait. Instead, they signed free-agent first baseman Christian Walker and locked in Isaac Paredes at third base. This shifted the Cardinals’ focus to two AL East rivals, the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox, as the most likely candidates for a trade.
Recent reports from Will Sammon and Katie Woo of The Athletic have cast doubt on the possibility of an Arenado trade, noting that a scenario where he remains with the Cardinals for the 2025 season is becoming more plausible. Trade talks have stalled, with both the Yankees and Red Sox expressing some level of interest, but without much progress.
The Yankees, in particular, have shown a reluctance to take on most of Arenado’s contract, despite their interest in his skills. While the Red Sox were not specifically mentioned in this context, reports suggest they are also focused on unloading their own contracts, such as with Masataka Yoshida.
The biggest hurdle, however, is the Cardinals’ unwillingness to absorb a significant portion of Arenado’s salary. This is understandable, given that Mozeliak’s primary goal is to reduce payroll.
Nolan Arenado
But at this point, the Cardinals may not have the luxury to be picky, especially since the team likely doesn’t want an aging, high-priced veteran lingering on the books.
If the Cardinals remain firm on not eating a large chunk of Arenado’s salary, it seems unlikely that either the Yankees or Red Sox would move forward with a trade.
While both teams have the financial resources, neither is keen on absorbing the full cost of Arenado’s contract, especially considering concerns about his declining bat.
Of course, the situation could evolve as the winter progresses and the Cardinals’ desperation grows. But as things stand, it looks increasingly likely that Arenado will stay with St. Louis, as the primary suitors—New York and Boston—don’t align with what the team is trying to achieve.
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