Despite being floated by the team on the trade block, Nolan Arenado is still with the St. Louis Cardinals. Arenado has the freedom to choose his team, yet he declined to play for any of them, including the Houston Astros. The Los Angeles Dodgers were one of the clubs on Arenado’s short list of teams he would accept a trade to.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale said that the Cardinals are still attempting to move Arenado, and the Dodgers have yet to indicate interest in a deal. Nightengale adds the Dodgers are still holding out hope that Max Muncy comes out of his rut.
Dodgers still banking on Max Muncy bounce-back before entertaining Nolan Arenado trade
It would be a homecoming for Arenado, who is from Los Angeles, to join the Dodgers. However, the team isn’t yet interested.
After beginning his career with the Oakland Athletics, Muncy signed a minor league contract with the Dodgers in 2017 and has been with them ever since. Muncy helped the Dodgers win two World Series (2020, 2024) and had two All-Star seasons (2019 and 2021). However, Muncy has had a difficult start to the season.
Muncy has a.184 batting average, a.314 on-base percentage, a.286 slugging percentage, one home run, five RBI, seven runs scored, 18 hits, and 37 strikeouts in 98 at-bats in 31 games this season.
There’s still plenty of season left for Muncy to turn things around. But with the NL West being aes difficult as it is, it may only be a matter of time until the Dodgers seek elsewhere for reinforcements, especially if they want to repeat as World Series champs.
Meanwhile, Arenado has cut. 3 home runs, 13 RBI, 13 runs scored, 27 hits, and just 10 strikeouts in 114 at-bats (30 games) while hitting 237/.326/.395. Arenado has won ten Gold Gloves, so any club that adds him would also be getting a sure thing at third base.
It’s unclear if Arenado will be part of the Dodgers’ intentions to make a major deal by the deadline.
