The St. Louis Cardinals are in a different situation than they were the previous offseason.
When the Cardinals ended the 2024 season, they said that they wished to “reset” but did nothing to adjust the squad, owing in part to no-trade restrictions. The Cardinals declined club options for Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson, but were unable to make significant adjustments before to the season. One person who meets this description is Nolan Arenado. He provided the team a short list of teams for which he would be ready to waive his no-trade clause, but no agreement was reached.
He has made it apparent in recent weeks that he will be more prepared to waive the no-trade provision if the appropriate chance arises. That’s something the Cardinals still have to consider because the no-trade clause is still in place, but The Athletic’s Katie Woo believes Arenado will be traded this summer to “Cardinals Territory.”
Where will Nolan Arenado go?
“Nolan Arenado said that he would be more open-minded to trade possibilities this winter and that he will expand his trade list,” according to Woo. “Obviously, he did not reveal the teams. In the previous summer, Nolan provided John Mozeliak with a list of five teams for which he would consider waiving his no-trade clause. The teams were the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and Houston Astros. We know how that story turned out. That’s why we’re here. Nolan is preparing for another winter of intense trade discussions…
“Coming into this winter, at least for me, it feels much more certain that Nolan Arenado will not be a Cardinal next year. Last year, I thought it was 50-50, then 75-25 when Mo indicated dealing Arenado was priority Nos. 1, 2, and 3. It does not make sense for the Cardinals to keep Nolan. Nolan believes it makes no sense to stay here.
If this is the end, Arenado and the Cardinals have had a terrific run.
