The Cardinals are prepared to maneuver on from Nolan Arenado, presenting the Yankees with a possible commerce answer at third base as they chart a brand new path after Juan Soto left for the Mets.
Arenado, 33, is an eight-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner however is coming off a down 2024 season offensively wherein he hit .272 with a .719 OPS — his lowest since his rookie season — 16 dwelling runs and 71 RBIs in 152 video games.
He is reportedly owed $74 million over the following three years and has a full no-trade clause.
“[Having Arenado remain a Cardinal] is a chance, however I’m unsure that places us the place we wish to be,” Cardinals president John Mozeliak advised reporters Monday on the MLB winter conferences, per ESPN. “From a monetary standpoint of making an attempt to maneuver our payroll, there are definitely different methods to try this, however [dealing Arenado] can be a giant assist. It’s monetary, nevertheless it additionally creates a runway for another person.”
Follow The Post’s protection from the winter conferences in Dallas for all the most recent updates on MLB signings, trades, rumors and extra.
“These selections are usually not one thing we ever take frivolously,” Mozeliak added. “[Arenado] isn’t demanding a commerce. He’s not telling me I’ve to do it, however I believe in one of the best curiosity of each side, I’d wish to attempt to discover him someplace to land.”
Arenado, who turns 34 in April, spent his first eight MLB seasons with the Rockies, and he completed within the high eight within the NL MVP voting 5 years in a row from 2015-19, a span wherein he hit 199 dwelling runs with 621 RBIs.
He signed an eight-year, $260 million contract extension with Colorado earlier than the 2019 season, after which he would have been a free agent.
Two years later, the Rockies traded Arenado to St. Louis, the place he proved he was greater than only a product of Coors Field by hitting 64 dwelling runs with 208 RBIs over his first two seasons.
He set career-highs with a 7.7 wins above substitute (WAR) and 151 OPS+ in 2022, ending third within the NL MVP race.
The Yankees made a 16-year, $760 million contract supply to attempt to retain Soto after his one yr in The Bronx, however he selected the Mets’ 15-year, $765 million supply which may bounce to $805 million in the event that they void his opt-out after the fifth yr.
