Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado blocks potential trade to Astros, sources say

Derrick Goold, St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Dec 18, 2024

Published in Baseball

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ST. LOUIS — As the Cardinals spent time the past month talking with teams to explore trading All-Star Nolan Arenado, the club knew ultimately it would have to take any potential deal back to their third baseman for approval.

A complete no-trade clause, one he once waived to make a deal to St. Louis possible, gave Arenado all the say in where he goes next or if he does at all.

Arenado notified the Cardinals this week he is not willing to waive his no-trade clause for a move to the Houston Astros, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch confirmed through multiple sources. MLB.com first reported that Arenado had used his no-trade right to decline a move to the Astros.

His choice could change potentially as the trade does, a source described, but it's not clear what that choice will do to ongoing talks between the teams.

Arenado's contract is complicated as its laced with a lot of deferred money, and it includes $10 million owed by the Colorado Rockies. As part of his wish to be traded to the Cardinals, Arenado agreed to defer money owed by the Rockies with interest and from the Cardinals without interest.

The Astros and Cardinals had been discussing a deal over the past few weeks, a source described. Houston was one of a select few teams the Cardinals either approached or engaged with about a potential deal for Arenado, and no movement was "imminent" a source described.

When it came to Houston specifically, MLB.com quoted an unidentified source: "It’s definitely not close."

At Major League Baseball's Winter Meetings, Arenado's agent Joel Wolfe said the 10-time Gold Glove-winning infielder was not looking to make a lateral move. With three years remaining on his contract and an eagerness to play for a championship, Arenado "wants a team that has the throttle down," Wolfe said.

Arenado has not requested a trade from the Cardinals, according to multiple sources, nor has he demanded one. He has agreed to let the Cardinals explore potential trades that would move him to a clear contender. Wolfe has spoken with at least two potentially interested teams when invited to do so with the Cardinals.

The Cardinals had talks going with "five-ish" teams about Arenado at the start of this month, according to a source. They reached to the Yankees, and they've also talked to the Red Sox. Two other teams with the profile the Cardinals believed would be a fit, the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, have not pursued talks. The Padres are not sure how Arenado fits financially, and the Dodgers said they expect Max Muncy to be their starting third baseman.

The Angels are among multiple teams that have been in touch with the Cardinals with interest, but it's not certain that moving closer to home geographically is as appealing as moving up the standings.

Arenado has expressed a willingness to shift positions if that makes a trade to a desirably team possible.

He has not given the Cardinals a list of preferred teams, a source said.

Wolfe described him as "more open-minded" to possibilities this year than when he fixated on a trade to the Cardinals ahead of the 2021 season.

One of the factors shaping the interest and offers for Arenado is the availability of another All-Star third baseman in the open market. Alex Bregman, last with the Astros, is a free-agent and is reportedly drawing interest from teams such as the Yankees, Red Sox, Tigers, and Astros. Some of the same teams have been involved in talks with the Cardinals or contacted by the Cardinals about Arenado.

It could take Bregman signing for clarity on offers for Arenado.

Arenado has three years and $74 million remaining on his contract.

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