USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reports that the Philadelphia Phillies are exploring a trade for St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado. Arenado’s agent, Joel Wolfe, has reportedly discussed the possibility of a deal with the Phillies. However, Arenado’s no-trade clause could complicate the situation. Nightengale notes that Arenado would only consider waiving the clause to join a contending team, and the Phillies, in a win-now mode, align with his priorities. If such a trade occurs, it would likely result in significant changes to the Phillies’ roster.
One factor fueling the Phillies’ pursuit of Arenado is their trade discussions involving Alec Bohm. According to Nightengale, the Phillies recently proposed a package including Bohm and Justin Crawford in talks with the Chicago White Sox for Garrett Crochet, but the offer was rejected. The Seattle Mariners have also expressed interest in Bohm, as reported by the Seattle Times. While it’s unclear if the Phillies will ultimately move Bohm, their interest in Arenado suggests a trade involving him is possible this offseason. Bohm, who is under team control through 2026 and was an All-Star for the first time last season, remains a valuable asset for potential trade partners.
Phillies Eyeing Acquisition of Veteran All-Star Infielder
In 152 games last season, Arenado posted a .272/.325/.394 slash line with 16 home runs and 71 RBIs. He recorded a 102 wRC+ and a .314 wOBA while striking out 14.5% of the time and walking at a 6.9% rate in 2024. Arenado’s offensive production has noticeably declined in recent years. Back in 2021, his debut season with the Cardinals, he hit 34 home runs and drove in 105 runs.
In 2022, he followed that with 30 home runs and 103 RBIs. However, his numbers dipped to 26 home runs and 93 RBIs in 2023, along with his wRC+ dropping from 149 in 2022 to 106 in 2023. According to Baseball Savant, Arenado ranked in the 39th percentile for chase rate last season, a troubling sign for a Phillies lineup that needs to focus on improving plate discipline this offseason.
Arenado A Fit In Phialdelphia?
Another issue with Arenado is his contract. He has three years and $74 million remaining on the deal. As part of the trade that sent Arenado to the Cardinals before the 2021 season, the Colorado Rockies agreed to pay $5 million annually for the next three years. For any potential trade, the Cardinals would need to either absorb some of that contract or accept a similarly burdensome contract in return.
If the Phillies pursue Arenado, they should insist that the Cardinals take on Taijuan Walker and the $36 million remaining on his contract over the next two seasons. The Phillies shouldn’t simply absorb Arenado’s contract without conditions. A fair trade could involve Walker and Bryan Rincon heading to the Cardinals in exchange for Arenado, with the Phillies taking on Arenado’s contract while the Cardinals assume Walker’s.
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