Nolan Arenado, the St. Louis Cardinals’ third baseman, is fully focused on the upcoming baseball season as he enters Spring Training. After a whirlwind offseason filled with trade rumors, Arenado has made it clear that he’s ready to return to the field and concentrate on his performance. Speaking to the media, Arenado expressed his commitment to the team, stating that he is a Cardinal “until I’m told I’m not,” and emphasized his desire to continue improving as a player for the 2025 season.
Cardinals Shift Focus to Retaining Arenado After Red Sox Complete Trade for Bregman
While Arenado did not rule out a trade entirely, the expectation within the Cardinals organization is that he will be their starting third baseman on Opening Day. President of baseball operations John Mozeliak, who had previously been vocal about trading Arenado, acknowledged that there is no current momentum toward a trade.
The Red Sox, who were considered a possible landing spot for Arenado, recently completed a deal for Alex Bregman, diminishing the likelihood of a trade between the two sides.
After the Red Sox made their move for Bregman, Mozeliak’s approach to trading Arenado shifted. He revealed that while trading Arenado remains a possibility, he is no longer actively seeking a trade. Instead, he will wait for any teams to approach him with offers. This shift in strategy reflects the current reality that Arenado, who has expressed a limited willingness to consider new destinations, is unlikely to expand the list of teams he’d approve a trade to unless a contender shows interest.
Arenado’s Limited Trade Options Make It Likely He’ll Remain with Cardinals in 2025
Though Arenado’s trade options are limited, it’s known that he would only consider moving to a select group of teams. Some of these teams reportedly include the Dodgers, Padres, Yankees, and Red Sox. However, trade scenarios for these teams appear unlikely at the moment.
The Red Sox have filled their infield gap, the Padres already have Manny Machado at third base, and both the Yankees and Dodgers are facing financial or roster constraints that would make acquiring Arenado difficult.
Given the limited interest from other teams and Arenado’s focus on improving his game, it now seems more likely that he will remain with the Cardinals to begin the 2025 season. Despite his reservations about the team’s current championship potential, Arenado is committed to his role and aims to enhance his performance. With no clear trade options emerging, Arenado’s immediate future appears to be in St. Louis as the season kicks off.