The third base market could see a major shakeup as the MLB trade deadline approaches—if the St. Louis Cardinals can find common ground on a deal for Nolan Arenado.
The eight-time All-Star was at the center of offseason trade buzz, with teams like the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox expressing varying degrees of interest. In the end, no deal materialized, and Arenado remained in St. Louis. But that could change before Thursday’s deadline.
According to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, there’s renewed interest in Arenado from clubs seeking help at third base, and a trade may be back on the table. This would mark a shift from earlier reporting that indicated the Cardinals intended to keep him.
Still, Feinsand notes one crucial factor: Arenado holds full no-trade protection and must approve any deal—just as he did in December when he vetoed a proposed trade between St. Louis and Houston.
The 34-year-old is no longer the dominant force he was during his peak years in Colorado. Barring his strong 2022 season—where he finished third in MVP voting—his recent performance has been in decline. His current .237 batting average and .669 OPS would both be career lows, with the latter dropping nearly 50 points from last season’s previous low.
Financially, Arenado is still owed two more years on his eight-year, $260 million deal originally signed with the Rockies. Colorado is covering part of the deferred money, and the Cardinals could also help offset the cost. Still, his no-trade clause remains a major obstacle, and any acquiring team would need to navigate the financials and secure his approval.
Arenado might be enticed by a chance to play meaningful baseball again. Entering Monday, the Cardinals were a middling 54-53 and sat 3.5 games back in the National League Wild Card race.
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