The St. Louis Cardinals have entered a rebuilding phase, allowing Paul Goldschmidt to leave in free agency and actively shopping Nolan Arenado throughout the offseason. However, no team has yet acquired Arenado, and the Boston Red Sox are no longer a possibility after signing Alex Bregman.
According to The Athletic’s Jayson Stark, Arenado’s no-trade clause has removed two potential suitors from the equation.
“The teams that logically fit — Toronto and Seattle — are clubs he’d likely reject a trade to,” Stark reported. “Meanwhile, the teams he would prefer don’t seem to view him as a priority, especially after the worst season of his career. It raises the question of how awkward his situation in St. Louis will be. But as one executive put it Thursday morning, the answer is clear: ‘Still more comfortable than Toronto!’”
Stark’s report does not confirm whether the Blue Jays or Mariners actually made offers for Arenado. However, both teams had underwhelming offseasons and could have considered trading for him after missing out in free agency. Arenado previously declined a trade to the Astros, highlighting that the Cardinals agreeing to a deal wouldn’t be the only obstacle to moving him.
Where can Nolan Arenado end up?
Jayson Stark’s report includes a quote from a rival executive stating, “If the market was big, he’d already have been gone, because I know the Cardinals were absolutely actively looking to deal him.” This suggests that the trade market for Arenado is limited and has continued to shrink as spring training begins.
The Mariners likely removed themselves from contention by re-signing Jorge Polanco, while Bregman’s signing took the Red Sox out of the mix, and Arenado himself reportedly ruled out the Astros. However, the New York Yankees have yet to acquire a third baseman and could still make a move before Opening Day.
With Goldschmidt now in The Bronx, he could help recruit his former Cardinals teammate. The Yankees currently lack an obvious fit at third base, with DJ LeMahieu, Oswaldo Cabrera, or Oswald Peraza as potential internal options. Acquiring Arenado would add his elite defense to the mix.
Meanwhile, the Blue Jays, after missing out on several top free agents earlier in the offseason, rebounded with a trade for Andrés Giménez and signings of Anthony Santander and Max Scherzer. If they manage to land Arenado, they could bolster their chances of contending in the American League.
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