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The St. Louis Cardinals are facing a tricky offseason, mainly because they can’t seem to find a new home for their star third baseman, Nolan Arenado.Both the team and Arenado are open to a change for the 2025 season, but trading the 10-time Gold Glove winner has proven to be quiet the challenge.
Financial and Roster Challenges
Arenado’s contract is a big deal—literally. The Cardinals owe him $74 million over the next three years, and that’s a hefty sum they’d like to clear from their books. This is all part of a bigger plan to reset their financial commitments, as explained by John Mozeliak, the Cardinals’ president of baseball operations. The idea is to give Chaim Bloom, who will take over after the 2025 season, a fresh start with a “clean slate.”
As they haven’t been able to trade Arenado, the Cardinals are taking a cautious approach this offseason. They don’t have much wiggle room in their budget until they can offload a big salary. This means they’re not rushing to sign long-term deals, even with their own players.For example, they haven’t been pushing hard to lock in multi-year contracts with players like Brendan Donovan, who is eligible for arbitration.
Player Preferences and Market Dynamics
Arenado has a full no-trade clause, which means he gets to say where he goes. He’s open to playing for teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and New York Mets, among others. But he turned down a trade to the Houston Astros because he wants to be with a team that’s more competitive.
The market for Arenado is tricky, too. Teams are hesitant because his performance has dipped a bit in recent seasons. Take the new York Mets, for example—they might be more interested in keeping their first baseman, Pete Alonso, who’s younger and offers similar value.
Strategic Decisions and Future Planning
mozeliak’s plan to avoid long-term commitments this winter is all about giving bloom the flexibility he needs when he steps in. this means holding onto players like Donovan and Lars Nootbaar,who are under team control,so bloom can decide later whether to extend their contracts or trade them. even when other teams showed interest in players like Ryan Helsley and Erick Fedde, the Cardinals said no to keep their options open.
Offseason Moves and Player Development
The Cardinals are on the lookout for a late-inning reliever and a right-handed bench bat, but they’re sticking to short-term contracts. Most of the top relievers are already signed, and older relievers usually only get one-year deals. This fits with the team’s strategy of avoiding long-term commitments.
Meanwhile, Arenado is working hard to get back to his best.He’s been practicing at the University of Texas at Austin, as he shared in an Instagram post titled “Back 2 the Roots.” This dedication is key as he aims to prove he’s still a top talent, whether he stays with the Cardinals or moves on.
Wrapping Up
The Cardinals’ offseason is all about being careful, planning strategically, and waiting to see how things unfold. Not being able to trade Arenado has big effects on their finances and roster. As the new season gets closer, the Cardinals will keep working through these challenges, all while getting ready for a leadership change and possibly a new look for their team.
What do you think? How should the Cardinals handle this situation? Feel free to share your thoughts!
The St. Louis Cardinals are facing a tricky offseason, mainly because they can’t seem to find a new home for their star third baseman,Nolan Arenado.Both the team and Arenado are open to a change for the 2025 season, but trading the 10-time Gold glove winner has proven to be quiet the challenge.
Financial and Roster Challenges
Arenado’s contract is a big deal—literally.The Cardinals owe him $74 million over the next three years, and that’s a hefty sum they’d like to clear from their books. This is all part of a bigger plan to reset their financial commitments, as explained by John Mozeliak, the Cardinals’ president of baseball operations. The idea is to give Chaim Bloom, who will take over after the 2025 season, a fresh start with a “clean slate.”
As they haven’t been able to trade Arenado,the Cardinals are taking a cautious approach this offseason. They don’t have much wiggle room in their budget until they can offload a big salary. This means they’re not rushing to sign long-term deals, even with their own players.Such as, they haven’t been pushing hard to lock in multi-year contracts with players like Brendan Donovan, who is eligible for arbitration.
Player Preferences and Market Dynamics
Arenado has a full no-trade clause, which means he gets to say where he goes.He’s open to playing for teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and New York Mets, among others.But he turned down a trade to the Houston Astros because he wants to be with a team that’s more competitive.
The market for Arenado is tricky, too. Teams are hesitant because his performance has dipped a bit in recent seasons. Take the new York Mets, for example—they might be more interested in keeping their first baseman, Pete Alonso, who’s younger and offers similar value.
Strategic Decisions and Future Planning
mozeliak’s plan to avoid long-term commitments this winter is all about giving bloom the flexibility he needs when he steps in. this means holding onto players like Donovan and Lars Nootbaar,who are under team control,so bloom can decide later whether to extend their contracts or trade them. even when other teams showed interest in players like Ryan Helsley and Erick Fedde, the Cardinals said no to keep their options open.
offseason Moves and Player Development
The Cardinals are on the lookout for a late-inning reliever and a right-handed bench bat, but they’re sticking to short-term contracts. Most of the top relievers are already signed, and older relievers usually only get one-year deals. This fits with the team’s strategy of avoiding long-term commitments.
Meanwhile,Arenado is working hard to get back to his best.He’s been practicing at the University of Texas at Austin,as he shared in an Instagram post titled “Back 2 the Roots.” This dedication is key as he aims to prove he’s still a top talent, whether he stays with the Cardinals or moves on.
Wrapping Up
The Cardinals’ offseason is all about being careful,planning strategically,and waiting to see how things unfold. Not being able to trade Arenado has big effects on their finances and roster. As the new season gets closer, the Cardinals will keep working through these challenges, all while getting ready for a leadership change and possibly a new look for their team.
What do you think? How should the Cardinals handle this situation? Feel free to share your thoughts! Join the conversation and leave a comment below or discuss it on social media with #CardinalsOffseason.
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Why is trading Nolan Arenado challenging for the Cardinals?
Trading Nolan Arenado is arduous due to his large contract—$74 million over the next three years—and his full no-trade clause, which gives him a say in potential trade destinations. these factors, combined with a dip in his recent performance, complicate potential negotiations.
Which teams are potential contenders for Arenado’s trade?
Nolan Arenado has shown openness to being traded to competitive teams such as the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and New York Mets. However, he turned down a potential move to the Houston Astros, highlighting his preference for teams that are strong contenders.
What is the Cardinals’ strategy for the current offseason?
The Cardinals are focused on short-term contracts this offseason, aiming to maintain budget flexibility. they are avoiding long-term commitments to free up financial space, ideally for a smooth transition when Chaim Bloom takes over after the 2025 season.
