After enduring their worst season ever in 2024, the Angels approached the offseason with urgency, aggressively trying to distance themselves from that low point through both the moves they executed and those that fell through. They successfully signed Yusei Kikuchi and traded for Jorge Soler, while high-profile deals they pursued but didn’t land included attempts to sign Pete Alonso and trade for Cardinals star Nolan Arenado—who, at one point, was reportedly willing to waive his no-trade clause for a move to Anaheim.
Although rumors of an Arenado-to-Angels trade never gained much traction, there was genuine interest from Angels GM Perry Minasian and the front office, as reported by Bob Nightengale of USA Today:
“The St. Louis Cardinals are not receiving any interest in third baseman Nolan Arenado after he rejected trades this winter to the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels.”
Wait… did he just say Angels? Let’s take a closer look—and assume, just for fun, that this isn’t another classic Bob Nightengale misfire.
MLB insider lets unfortunate Nolan Arenado-Angels rumor slip in latest column
The Cardinals were actively pursuing trade options for Nolan Arenado as they looked to reduce payroll heading into the 2025 season. Throughout the rumor mill, fans and analysts widely anticipated that Arenado would land with one of the big-market contenders—like the Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox, or Astros. So when Arenado reportedly declined a deal to Houston, few could have imagined he’d consider a move to their division rival, the Angels. If Bob Nightengale’s report is accurate, it’ll be fascinating to learn whether the Angels made their push before or after Arenado turned down the Astros.
Given the Angels’ reputation for frugality, few believed they’d be willing to absorb most of Arenado’s remaining contract (three years, $52 million), let alone part with prospects from an already thin farm system for a 34-year-old coming off two subpar seasons in St. Louis. Yet, that appears to have been their intention. Credit to them for making the effort, even if the fit wasn’t ideal—again, assuming Nightengale’s report about a nearly finalized deal is correct and only dependent on Arenado’s approval.
Since signing Anthony Rendon, the Angels have had a revolving door at third base, so targeting a steady, respected veteran like Arenado makes sense. He’s known for his clubhouse presence, defensive excellence, and ties to Mike Trout through Team USA. Adding Arenado would have boosted both on-field leadership and off-field revenue through merchandise and ticket sales.
This season, the Angels have been rotating Yoán Moncada and Luis Rengifo at third. Arenado has played in over twice as many games as Moncada, though Moncada currently holds the edge in OBP, SLG, and OPS—and comes at a lower cost. Still, it’s tough to argue that passing on a future Hall of Famer makes the team better. For Angels fans, it’s yet another bitter moment in a string of disappointments, reinforcing the franchise’s reputation as a league-wide punchline.