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Jesse Rogers, ESPN Staff Writer
DALLAS — The agent for Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado stated Tuesday there may be “ongoing” dialogue with the St. Louis entrance workplace because it pertains to a possible commerce of the eight-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner, who’s keen to modify positions to assist facilitate a deal.
Arenado, 33, might be on the transfer because the Cardinals enter a transition part and are unlikely to compete for a playoff spot in 2025.
“Nolan desires to win, and there is extra particulars, however that is actually between them and I do not wish to have any impact on what [Cardinals president of baseball operations John] Mozeliak is making an attempt to do,” agent Joel Wolfe stated from the winter conferences. “Nolan’s keen to strongly think about it, if it is the precise place to go, however he isn’t going to go simply anyplace.
“He has a full no-trade clause, so he has that proper, and he is a veteran participant and we hope one thing good occurs, however he isn’t going to approve and transfer his household and go play (simply anyplace).”
Arenado has supplied to play first base if it helps the commerce course of, and the Yankees are among the many groups. New York may nonetheless play him at third by shifting Jazz Chisholm Jr. to second base, assuming free agent Gleyber Torres would not re-sign.
Arenado hit simply 16 dwelling runs in 2024, the fewest since his rookie yr in 2013. He’s owed $74 million over the ultimate three years of his contract.
“Nolan was like, ‘I’ll play shortstop, I’ll do no matter, however I’m not insulted to go play first, and I can win a Gold Glove over there,'” Wolfe stated.
Wolfe additionally stated one other shopper, Chicago Cubs outfielder/designated hitter Seiya Suzuki, has been approached a few commerce. Like Arenado, he has a full no-trade clause.
Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer has stored involved with Suzuki’s camp all through the winter.
“I talked to [Hoyer] about it [Monday] evening,” Wolfe stated. “He instructed me what groups they have been speaking to. I do not assume he desires to commerce, however there could also be a situation the place he seems like he has a deal that he cannot say no to.”
The Boston Red Sox have been searching for right-handed hitting, whereas the Seattle Mariners wish to enhance their offense total. It’s unclear if Suzuki would waive his no-trade clause for both crew.
Suzuki compiled a career-high 138 OPS-plus in 2024, a quantity that has gone up in every of his first three massive league seasons. He has two years remaining on a five-year, $85 million deal he signed with Chicago earlier than the 2022 season.
Complicating issues is Suzuki’s place on the sphere. By all accounts and metrics, he didn’t have an excellent yr on protection in 2024 and ended the season because the crew’s common designated hitter.
According to Wolfe, it would not sound like Suzuki desires to stay in that function.
“I feel that if he was being posted in Japan 1733868860 and groups have been presenting to them their alternatives they usually stated you possibly can come right here and be our full-time DH, I do not assume he would have signed with that crew,” Wolfe defined.
It’s additionally unclear if promising Suzuki the possibility to play the sphere would entice him to waive his no-trade clause. The Cubs may inform him that if he isn’t traded, he’d be their full-time DH, which could make the distinction. The crew is more likely to commerce both Suzuki or lefty Cody Bellinger.
“It’s a small universe the place Seiya would think about going,” Wolfe stated.
