Arenado narrows down wish list of trade candidates to 6 (source)

DALLAS -- As part of what Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak called a “reset” for 2025, the Cardinals are planning to trade superstar third baseman Nolan Arenado to lessen their financial responsibilities over the next three years and create more infield playing time opportunities for Brendan Donovan, Nolan Gorman and Thomas Saggese. Arenado and his agent, Joel Wolfe, informed the Cardinals that the 10-time Gold Glove winner at third base would be willing to play other positions if it helped to facilitate a trade to a World Series contender. Wolfe said on Tuesday that geographical preference does not weigh heavily on Arenado’s choice and that the number of teams that he would accept a trade to is “bigger than you might think.”

Arenado, who is owed $74 million over the next three seasons, has a full no-trade clause in a contract originally signed with the Rockies and assumed by the Cardinals in 2021. Any trade will have to be approved by the 33-year-old Arenado, who hit 16 home runs and drove in 71 runs in 2024. In addition to having the Dodgers, Padres and Angels on his wish list, Arenado would also be willing to accept a trade to the Phillies, Mets or Red Sox, per a source close to the negotiations.

“He doesn’t have the ability to ride it out and just be OK with [losing],” Wolfe said of Arenado. “It’s like his biological clock is ticking and if the team’s not winning, it’s driving him crazy -- every day, every night and all through the offseason -- and he takes it so personal and [acts] like it’s all on him.

“The Cardinals are changing directions, which is fine because all teams do that. So, if that’s the way it is, and they say that [an Arenado trade] might be beneficial -- and they have been open and communicative about that -- I get it. Now, let’s try and find a place where they are in a different place, and he can jump in and help the team go to the next level.”

Wolfe said the discussions are ongoing and that there are certain teams Arenado would prefer not to join.

“It’s more of a, ‘Would you be OK with this team, OK with that team?’” Wolfe said. “We don’t want to waste [Mozeliak’s] time. There are some hard no’s of where he’d prefer not to go. So, it’s been dynamic in the discussion about how it will work.”