A former Major League general manager has a forecast for a deal that will give the Detroit Tigers a significant improvement at third base, which they desperately need.
The former executive claimed that the Tigers would trade eight-time All-Star Nolan Arenado for two Single-A prospects. The St. Louis Cardinals would also agree to eat a percentage of Arenado’s remaining compensation.
Last year, the Tigers made an almost miraculous run to the postseason. Detroit was two games below.500 and nine and a half games behind the Kansas City Royals for the third and final American League Wild Card berth on August 22, with just 32 games left in the season. Their situation looked hopeless. Fans were largely resigned to a 10th season in a row without playoff baseball in Detroit.
Then a unique event occurred. The Tigers won eight of their next ten games as they went on a rampage. The Bengals maintained their winning streak, winning 15 of their last 19 games to secure a Wild Card berth.
Tigers Success Comes Despite Lack of 3rd Base Production
They advanced to the AL Division Series round before being defeated by the Cleveland Guardians, who won the Central Division. The Tigers did not lose easy even at that time. In the best-of-five series, they forced Cleveland into a pivotal fifth game.
Detroit has continued exactly where it left off in 2025. After almost seven weeks of play, the Tigers have the best record in the American League (AL) at 22-13, which is third only to the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres in MLB.
They have succeeded in spite of a lengthy list of injuries and a shocking lack of output at third base, one of their main power positions.
Manager A.J. Hinch has mainly split the hot corner responsibilities between rookie Jace Jung, the team’s No. 4 prospect in 2024 and 2022 first-round draft pick, 22nd overall, out of Texas Tech, and 32-year-old journeyman Andy Ibáñez. Jung has only managed to record an OPS of.370 in 37 plate appearances thus far.
With a.713 OPS, 12 hits, and 5 walks in 57 plate appearances (he has also been hit by two pitches), Ibáñez has been a little more manageable, but still far from sufficient for the third base position.
It appears that the Tigers were counting on their successful pursuit of Alex Bregman, a free agent. They reportedly offered the former Houston Astros third baseman a six-year contract for $171.5 million, but Bregman chose to sign with the Boston Red Sox instead of Detroit.
Jim Bowden, a current MLB commentator for The Athletic and a former general manager of the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals, offered his suggestion on Monday for how the Tigers may make up for losing out on Bregman. Trade for Arenado, the 10-time Gold Glove third baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Arenado has not stated that he would agree to a transfer to the Motor City and has a complete no-trade clause. But maybe the eight-time All-Star would give Detroit, a postseason club with one of MLB’s finest and deepest five-man rotations, another chance,” Bowden wrote.
Arenado Would Need to Waive No-Trade Clause
The Cardinals had a deal in place to send the 34-year-old, 13-year veteran to the Astros at one time over the winter, making him one of the most sought-after trade assets. However, Arenado canceled the transaction by invoking his no-trade clause.
Arenado may still be available to the Cardinals throughout the season, as they have publicly stated their goal to rebuild around younger, less expensive players.
Bowden thinks the cost would be low if he accepts a move to Detroit, and it would depend more on how much of the $52 million left on Arenado’s eight-year, $260 million deal St. Louis is prepared to pay than it would on a haul of top prospects. (Arenado is still owed $10 million by the Colorado Rockies, who selected him in the second round of the 2009 MLB Draft.)
Bowden remarked, “The Cardinals should be able to get by with two low-level prospects.” He then recommended righty Randall and third baseman Rucker, who are both now with Detroit’s Single-A Lakeland Flying Tigers. Rucker is ranked 23rd in the Tigers’ organization, and Randall is ranked 17th by MLB Pipeline.
