Report: Cardinals open to trading All-Star hitter

Sep 5, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; A detailed view of the hat and glove of St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Nolan Gorman (not pictured) before a game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The St. Louis Cardinals are open to some significant changes after a disappointing season, and that might include moving on from their most prominent player.

The Cardinals are expected to gauge interest from around the league in third baseman Nolan Arenado, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Arenado’s contract contains a no-trade clause, so the Cardinals would need to gain his approval for them to pull off any trade. Their goal is to collect enough information to present him with his options within the next several weeks.

One complication is Arenado’s contract. The 33-year-old has three years remaining on his current deal, and there is also deferred money involved from the Colorado Rockies.

Arenado is an eight-time All-Star and has long been one of the game’s best third basemen. However, his offensive numbers slipped in 2024, as his 16 home runs were his lowest full-season total since he was a rookie. He still hit .272, but the lack of power has to be a concern.

The Cardinals are coming off an underwhelming 83-79 season, and appear to be making some significant changes. Moving on from Arenado and getting younger may be a signal for their plans for 2025.