It seemed like a long shot, but on Tuesday night, it inched closer to reality. St. Louis Cardinals third baseman revealed a list of six teams he’d approve a trade to, given his no-trade clause. Unsurprisingly, the Oakland Athletics weren’t among them.
According to John Denton of MLB.com, Arenado’s preferred destinations include the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Angels, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, and Boston Red Sox. Notably, the New York Yankees did not make the list.
Arenado, 33, will be heading into his age-34 season with three years and $74 million remaining on his contract. This includes $32 million owed in 2025, $27 million in 2026, and $15 million in 2027, with the Colorado Rockies covering $10 million of that total in $5 million payments in 2025 and 2026.
This past season, Arenado posted a .272 batting average with a .325 on-base percentage and a 101 OPS+, making him slightly above league average offensively. It was the first season since 2014 that he wasn’t selected as an All-Star, excluding 2020 when no All-Star Game was held due to the pandemic.
Defensively, Arenado remains elite, ranking in the 95th percentile in Outs Above Average with +10. However, he hasn’t won a Gold Glove since 2022, with Ke’Bryan Hayes and Matt Chapman taking the honor the past two seasons.
For the Athletics, Arenado would be a clear fit. They need a third-base upgrade and must increase payroll for 2025. Even if his offensive production continues to decline, his stellar defense would complement their focus on ground-ball pitchers and improving overall team defense as they prepare for the move to Sacramento.
However, Arenado has no interest in playing in a minor-league-level ballpark, making any potential trade unlikely unless he changes his mind and waives his no-trade clause.
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