Cards will 'try' to trade Arenado, Yankees reportedly interested
St. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak confirmed Monday that the team is working to move star third baseman Nolan Arenado.
"It's my intention to try (and trade him)," Mozeliak said at the winter meetings, according to Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
While no trade is imminent, Mozeliak added that he expects the situation could be resolved within the next seven-to-10 days, according to Jeff Jones of the Belleville News Democrat.
Arenado is owed $59 million over the final two seasons of his contract and owns a full no-trade clause. His preference is to be dealt to a contender, and he's believed to have a narrow list of clubs with which he'd approve a deal, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. Arenado is also said to be willing to play first base in the right situation.
The New York Yankees, who have a hole at the hot corner, are interested in trading for the eight-time All-Star, a source told Woo. It's not clear if Arenado would approve the Yanks as a destination or how far along St. Louis' talks with New York might be.
At least three unknown mid-market clubs have also checked in with the Cardinals, Woo reports. The Cardinals have reached out to around five teams to discuss an Arenado trade, sources told Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Mozeliak made it clear that Arenado has not requested a trade this offseason.
"These decisions are not something we ever take lightly," the executive said, per Woo. "(Arenado) is not demanding a trade. He's not telling me I have to do it, but I think in the best interest of both sides, I'd like to try to find him someplace to land."
Mozeliak said there is a possibility that Arenado will remain a Cardinal into spring training but added that "I'm not sure that puts us exactly where we want to be," per Goold.
The Cardinals reportedly began gauging interest about a potential Arenado trade last month, in the wake of a disappointing 2024 season. They're hoping to move the 33-year-old in an attempt to trim payroll ahead of a possible rebuild.
Arenado was acquired by the Cardinals from the Colorado Rockies before the 2021 season in a complicated deal that included negotiated deferrals that will be paid out through 2041. The 10-time Gold Glove winner made three All-Star teams in his first four years as a Cardinal and finished third in NL MVP voting in 2022.
Things started moving south in 2023, when his hold on the Gold Glove at third base was finally snapped. That trend continued into 2024, as Arenado's slash line sunk to a career-worst .272/.325/.394 with only 16 homers in 152 games last year.
The Cardinals rebounded from a 91-loss 2023 campaign to go 83-79 and finish second in the NL Central this past season. However, they finished 10 games out of first place and missed the playoffs for a second straight year.