As the St. Louis Cardinals pivot toward a younger roster, third baseman Nolan Arenado is reportedly on the trading block, despite holding a full no-trade clause. The Southern California native has included the San Diego Padres among his approved teams for a potential trade, alongside the Phillies, Mets, and Red Sox.
Arenado, who is set to earn $74 million over the next three seasons, inherited his contract from the Rockies when he joined the Cardinals in 2021. Any trade would require his approval, making negotiations complex.
The 33-year-old, a 10-time Gold Glove winner, has expressed a willingness to play different positions to facilitate a move to a competitive team. His agent, Joel Wolfe, emphasized that Arenado is not fixated on geographic location and is open to a broader range of teams than initially expected.
Wolfe noted, “He doesn’t have the ability to ride it out and just be OK with [losing]. It’s driving him crazy if the team’s not winning, and he takes it personally.” As the Cardinals seek to restructure their roster, Arenado is eager to find a situation where he can contribute to a contender.
While discussions continue, Arenado has specified teams he prefers to avoid. Recently, there were rumors linking him to the Dodgers due to a social media post, but those discussions seem unlikely after Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes confirmed Max Muncy would be the starting third baseman.
Wolfe added, “It’s more of a, ‘Would you be OK with this team, OK with that team?’ We want to be respectful of [John Mozeliak’s] time, and there are some hard no’s on where he’d prefer not to go. The discussions are dynamic, and we’re exploring options.”
As the offseason unfolds, the Padres remain a prominent contender for Arenado, who could significantly bolster their lineup.
