Nolan Arenado, the St. Louis Cardinals’ third baseman, spoke to the media after arriving at Spring Training, addressing the offseason rumors that linked him to trade discussions. Despite being the subject of trade talks throughout the winter, Arenado emphasized that his focus is entirely on preparing for the upcoming season with the Cardinals. “I’m back and I’m ready to go play ball,” he said. “I’m a ballplayer, and I’m a Cardinal, until I’m told I’m not. You know what I mean? And that’s all there is to it. And I’ve got a lot of work to do.”
Though Arenado’s comments didn’t rule out a trade completely, it seems the Cardinals expect him to be their starting third baseman on Opening Day. According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, there is currently no significant momentum toward a deal, and both Arenado and Cardinals president John Mozeliak are comfortable with the possibility of the veteran staying in St. Louis.
While Mozeliak had previously made trading Arenado a priority, his stance has softened since the Red Sox acquired Alex Bregman, which ended any talks of a deal that would have sent Arenado to Boston.
With the Red Sox no longer in play, Mozeliak has decided to wait for potential suitors to approach rather than actively seeking out trade partners. Arenado, meanwhile, has expressed reluctance to expand the list of teams he would consider a trade to.
He stated that he is “not likely” to entertain new destinations, adding that he would only move to a team with a better chance of competing for a championship and is not interested in relocating his family unless necessary.
While there are teams that could be seen as closer to championship contention, Arenado’s trade approval list reportedly includes fewer than five teams. While the Astros were once thought to be on that list, Arenado blocked a trade to Houston in December due to concerns about their future direction following the Kyle Tucker trade. Other teams that might be considered are the Red Sox, Padres, Dodgers, and Yankees.
However, none of these teams seem likely to make a move for Arenado at this time. The Red Sox addressed their infield by acquiring Bregman, while the Dodgers, Mets, and Phillies have no room for an infield addition.
The Padres could use another infielder, but with Manny Machado locked in at third, Arenado wouldn’t be a perfect fit. The Yankees and Angels are also unlikely suitors due to payroll constraints or being further from contention.
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