Cardinals make admission about potential Nolan Arenado commerce

St. Louis Cardinals president John Mozeliak made an admission in regards to the workforce’s offseason efforts to commerce third baseman Nolan Arenado.

Mozeliak conceded Wednesday that it’s unsure that the Cardinals will have the ability to commerce Arenado earlier than the season begins. 

“I believe the mindset proper now could be he’s possible going to be part of our membership at this level,” Mozeliak mentioned, per Jeff Jones of the Belleville Information-Democrat. “I undoubtedly really feel prefer it’s a greater likelihood than not” that he is nonetheless a Cardinal on Opening Day.

The workforce has sought to maneuver Arenado all winter, however a mix of things have prevented a transfer, which Mozeliak conceded may make issues barely awkward when the veteran third baseman reviews to spring coaching.

“I do really feel as groups are starting to report it undoubtedly seems like there may be extra urgency to see if there might be some method to carry this to conclusion,” Mozeliak mentioned of Arenado commerce talks, by way of Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Publish-Dispatch. “This has a little bit awkwardness. There may be some fact to that. We now have a while to keep away from awkwardness, and if not, we’ll take care of awkwardness.”

For the Cardinals, the largest challenge in making an attempt to commerce Arenado is a really restricted market. The Cardinals imagine there are solely 5 groups Arenado would settle for a commerce to because of his no-trade clause, and never all of these groups are eager about making a deal. The workforce that has persistently been seen because the most probably to make the transfer, the Boston Pink Sox, successfully took themselves out of the market Wednesday.

The Cardinals tried to commerce Arenado to at least one American League workforce earlier within the offseason, however he rejected the transfer.

In principle, a workforce just like the New York Yankees may nonetheless pursue Arenado, however cash will likely be a problem. Groups just like the Detroit Tigers that missed out on Bregman may be , however Arenado must be keen to go there.

Arenado hit a modest .272 with 16 house runs in 2024. He nonetheless performs high quality protection, however the truth that he’s nonetheless owed one other $74 million over the subsequent three years has additionally sophisticated efforts to maneuver him.