The St. Louis Cardinals have reportedly spent the entire offseason exploring trade options for star third baseman Nolan Arenado. With a hefty contract still on the books and the team seemingly shifting toward a rebuild, St. Louis has been motivated to move him. However, Arenado’s no-trade clause has made things complicated, leaving the Cardinals with very little leverage in trade talks.
As a result, Arenado remains with the team—not because the Cardinals are eager to keep him, but because a deal hasn’t materialized. According to Christopher Hennessy of ClutchPoints, it’s likely Arenado stays put through the 2025 season.
“This Cardinals offseason was defined by their quest to trade Nolan Arenado,” Hennessy wrote. “His no-trade clause prevented a deal with the Houston Astros, and they couldn’t finalize an agreement with any of the teams on his approved list. So, the former MVP will stay at third base in St. Louis with three years left on his contract. He’ll remain with the Cardinals for this season, and the trade speculation will ramp up again next year.”
At this point, Arenado being traded seems unlikely—unless one of the six teams he’s reportedly cleared for (the Red Sox, Angels, Dodgers, Phillies, Mets, or Padres) loses a key infielder to injury. While Arenado still has plenty of talent, his sizable contract makes it tough for contenders to absorb, even if the cost in prospects is minimal.
For now, it looks like Arenado is poised to finish yet another season in St. Louis.
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