Nolan Arenado, the third baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals, is one of the players to watch as the MLB trade deadline approaches. The Cardinals attempted to trade Arenado this offseason as part of their “retooling” strategy, but Arenado refused to accept a deal, including an offer to join the Houston Astros. With the deadline months away, is there one team to keep an eye on?
Jim Bowden of The Athletic wrote a piece identifying five deals he hopes to see in May. One of those transactions saw the Cardinals sending Arenado to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for right-handed pitcher Josh Randall and third baseman Carson Rucker.
However, as Bowden points out, Arenado would need to renounce his no-trade clause.
The Athletic’s Nolan Arenado-Tigers trade idea is easier said than done
The biggest obstacle in any trade involving Nolan Arenado is his no-trade clause—he must approve any deal. This past offseason, he gave the Cardinals a shortlist of teams he’d be willing to join, which included the Red Sox, Mets, Phillies, Padres, Dodgers, and Angels. The Cardinals even had a deal lined up with the Astros, but Arenado declined the move.
Since the Tigers weren’t on his approved list, it’s unclear whether he’d accept a trade to Detroit, even though they are playoff contenders.
Detroit does have a clear need at third base. Earlier this offseason, they made a serious push to sign Alex Bregman in free agency. The interest made sense given Bregman’s history with Tigers manager A.J. Hinch in Houston. Despite offering Bregman a longer and more lucrative deal, he signed elsewhere on a three-year, $120 million contract.
Shifting focus to Arenado could be logical for the Tigers, but there’s a significant challenge: he’s still owed $64 million through 2027. Even though Detroit made a strong run to the ALDS last season, they haven’t been known for heavy spending. It’s uncertain whether they’d be willing to absorb that financial commitment—or if the Cardinals would be open to covering part of it.
As the season is still in its early stages, it remains to be seen what direction the Cardinals will take. But for teams needing help at third base, Arenado stands out as the top option. Ultimately, though, it all comes down to Arenado’s decision.