St. Louis Cardinals have been actively exploring their trade options since 2024. The move was anticipated ever since the MLB’s season ended. Arenado is a 33 year old eight-time All Star and 10-time Gold Glove Winner. He has a contract that runs for another three years. $74 million remains on his original $8-year deal worth $260 million he signed originally with the Colorado Rockies.
The St. Louis Cardinals have shifted their focus to a rebuilding plan after missing out on the MLB Playoffs for the past three seasons and not being able to progress beyond the Wild Card in 2019. One of the key components to this rebuilding strategy is reducing payroll. This includes a significant amount associated with Nolan Arenado’s deal.
Arenado’s clause of no-trade complicates the situation, since it allows him to have a significant amount of control on potential destinations. The Cardinals inability to reach a deal with teams listed on Arenado’s list and the Cardinals’ failure to complete a deal with them has narrowed down the options to just one: the New York Yankees.
Britt Ghiroli is a senior MLB reporter for The Athletic. He recently stated that the trade of Nolan Arenado to the New York Yankees was not only probable, but would be completed before MLB Opening Day. Opening Day for the New York Yankees is set to take place on March 27, at Yankee Stadium, against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Ghiroli, who appeared on SNY (a New York-based sports cable channel), said: “This just seems like a given to me.” I mean, it’s been on our minds all winter.” Ghiroli also mentioned Houston Astros, even though Arenado had previously rejected a Houston trade, despite reports that the Cardinals and Astros reached an agreement.
Zack Scott, a former New York Mets executive who was part of the SNY conversation, suggested during the discussion that Arenado preferred the New York Yankees. Scott mentioned Arenado’s participation at a recent spring training game in Tampa against the New York Yankees, despite traveling over 200 miles. This raised some eyebrows.
Scott said, “Normally, I’d say that we are probably creating something from nothing. But I think this is actually something.” It’s still early in the spring, and many veterans dislike making this trip. It seems like he wants this to be over and move on to somewhere else. So he will showcase himself the most he can.
If Arenado did indeed try to impress the Yankees in this particular game, then his performance was not impressive. Nolan Arenado was hitless and recorded two strikeouts in the Yankees 7-0 win. He struck out against Will Warren, one of the most highly regarded pitchers in New York Yankees’ farm system.
Arenado struck out twice in the 7th inning against Brent Headrick. Headrick is a minor-league pitcher with limited MLB experience, having pitched in just one MLB match since 2023, and 15 games in total.