Dodgers not a good fit for Nolan Arenado even as Cardinals try to trade him: sources

DALLAS — If the Los Angeles Dodgers’ pursuit of Juan Soto signaled anything, it was what we already knew: They should always be considered a looming factor when a star becomes available.

But with the St. Louis Cardinals looking to trade All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado, don’t count on the Dodgers being in the game. League sources have strongly suggested as much The athletic one that a deal for Arenado is not a possibility the organization has considered. And Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said on the record Monday that Max Muncy would be the team’s third baseman on Opening Day.

“Muncy will play third base for us,” Gomes said. “He is such a big part of our work and has been an integral part. So, yeah, Max plays third base.”

Speculation about whether Arenado might fit with the Dodgers was strong enough that Muncy said during an appearance on “Foul Territory” that he would be willing to switch positions to accommodate a move. He later added, “As long as I get to stay, I don’t care who they bring.”

Los Angeles has long been considered a desirable landing spot for Arenado, which has a no-trade clause, and the Dodgers did not enter into trade discussions with the Cardinals until the 2023 trade deadline. Arenado is from Orange County and attended El Toro High School in Lake Forest, California.

Arenado’s agent, Joel Wolfe of Wasserman, said Tuesday: “Nolan is willing to seriously consider a trade … but he’s not going to just go anywhere.” Wolfe added that Arenado is “looking for a team that he believes is good.” “will win now and permanently for the rest of his career”.

But a fit makes little sense for the Dodgers, whose infield appears in place: Muncy at third base, Mookie Betts at shortstop, Gavin Lux at second base and Freddie Freeman at first base.

Arenado is owed $74 million for the remaining three years of his eight-year, $260 million contract he originally signed with the Colorado Rockies in 2019. While the veteran is open to playing other positions, the 34-year-old’s offensive production has taken a hit since he finished third in the NL MVP voting in 2022. Since then, Arenado has posted a baseball-reference combined WAR of 4.9 with an OPS of .746 (104 OPS+).

The 34-year-old Muncy is entering the second season of a two-year, $24 million extension he signed last offseason, and the Dodgers hold an affordable $10 million club option for him in 2026. The veteran has repeatedly expressed his desire to spend the rest of his career in Los Angeles and remained productive in the batter’s box. Over the same two-year period as Arenado, Muncy was worth 5.6 WAR with an OPS of .823 (125 OPS+) – despite Muncy playing 88 fewer games due to injury.

Given the price and given the production the reigning World Series champions have already brought to the position, Arenado never seemed like a great fit.

The Dodgers remain focused on signing another corner outfielder, particularly re-signing Teoscar Hernández, as the club signed Michael Conforto to a one-year, $17 million contract earlier this week.

– The Athletics Katie Woo contributed to this report.

(Photo by Nolan Arenado: Paul Halfacre / USA Today)