Report: Cardinals, Rockies discussing potential Arenado trade

The Colorado Rockies and St. Louis Cardinals are discussing a trade that would send Nolan Arenado to St. Louis, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

No deal is imminent, Rosenthal notes.

Arenado possesses a full no-trade clause but would likely be willing to waive it to join the Cardinals, according to Rosenthal. The 29-year-old third baseman is owed $199 million over the next six seasons and has an opt-out following the 2021 campaign.

Arenado is coming off his worst offensive showing since his rookie year. The five-time All-Star hit .253/.303/.434 with eight home runs over 48 games in the pandemic-shortened campaign.

An eight-time Gold Glove winner and four-time Platinum Glove winner, Arenado has been one of the best third basemen in the sport throughout his career. He owns an .890 OPS over eight seasons, trailing only Alex Bregman (.902) and Josh Donaldson (.894) at the position since the beginning of his career in 2013.

In the event Arenado does join the Cardinals, 35-year-old Matt Carpenter would be displaced at the hot corner. Carpenter, a three-time All-Star, has struggled over the past two years, hitting .216/.332/.372 with 19 homers and six stolen bases in 179 games played.