The St. Louis Cardinals appear poised to embark on a rebuild—or as some prefer to call it, a “reload”—indicating that they don’t plan to completely dismantle their roster. Speculation has swirled around the potential departures of players like Sonny Gray, Miles Mikolas, and Ryan Helsley. However, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reports that the Cardinals are pursuing a much smaller-scale rebuild than initially anticipated. Instead of offloading multiple veterans, the team seems focused on moving just one big-name player at the moment.
According to Nightengale, the Cardinals are shopping Nolan Arenado, the star third baseman, as their primary trade piece. Arenado has three years and $52 million remaining on his contract, with the Colorado Rockies covering $4 million of his salary for each of those years. Given the circumstances, Arenado’s trade market could be robust, particularly if the Cardinals are willing to absorb part of his remaining salary.
Arenado could be a must-trade player for St. Louis for several reasons. His value on the trade market would likely peak after marquee free agents like Willy Adames and Alex Bregman sign deals, giving the Cardinals leverage with interested teams. Potential suitors include the New York Yankees, New York Mets, and Boston Red Sox, though other contenders may also emerge. With the offseason still unfolding, Arenado’s future remains a key storyline to watch.
Leave a Reply