Although the St. Louis Cardinals are just one game behind first place in the NL Central with a 23-19 record, they will still part ways with Nolan Arenado. The 10-time Gold Glove winner has been the subject of trade speculation since December, and while the Cardinals have held on to the 34-year-old third baseman, ESPN’s Buster Olney suggests a deal could still be in the works. Olney notes that the circumstances are aligning for a potential trade—provided Arenado agrees to waive his no-trade clause and the Cardinals are open to dealing him.
While moving a high-salary position player midseason is typically challenging, several contending teams may be interested in the eight-time All-Star. The Cubs continue to struggle at third base, and the Yankees are set to experiment with DJ LeMahieu at the position. Meanwhile, the Dodgers are once again waiting on Max Muncy to rebound from a slow start, just as they did last year. These three clubs are expected to be key players in the pursuit of Arenado in July.
Although intra-division trades are rare, making the Cubs a less likely landing spot, the Yankees and Dodgers could engage in a competitive bidding war for Arenado. It’s also more likely Arenado would waive his no-trade clause for one of those two teams, especially considering he previously declined a deal to the Astros due to concerns about their outlook. Whichever team acquires him will be responsible for the remaining \$52 million on his contract through the 2027 season.