Nolan Arenado has a list of trade candidates

DALLAS – As part of what Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak called a “reset” for 2025, the Cardinals plan to trade superstar third baseman Nolan Arenado, reduce their financial responsibilities over the next three years and more Creating opportunities for infield playing time for Brendan Donovan, Nolan Gorman and Thomas Saggese. Arenado and his agent Joel Wolfe told the Cardinals that the 10-time Gold Glove winner at third base would be willing to play other positions if it would help facilitate a trade to a World Series contender. Wolfe said Tuesday that geographic preference didn’t have much of an impact on Arenado’s choice and that the number of teams he would accept a trade to is “larger than you might think.”

Arenado, who is owed $74 million over the next three seasons, has a full no-trade clause in a contract originally signed with the Rockies and acquired by the Cardinals in 2021. Any trade must be approved by 33-year-old Arenado, who hit 16 home runs and drove in 71 runs in 2024. In addition to having the Dodgers, Padres and Angels on his wish list, Arenado would also be willing to accept a trade to the Phillies, Mets or Red Sox, according to a source close to negotiations.

“He doesn’t have the ability to push through it and just deal with (losing),” Wolfe said of Arenado. “It’s like his biological clock is ticking and when the team doesn’t win it drives him crazy – every day, every night and all offseason – and he takes it so personally and acts like it’s all on him .”

“The Cardinals are changing direction, which is fine because all teams do that. So if that’s the case and they’re saying that (an Arenado trade) could be beneficial – and they’ve been open and communicative about it – then I understand that. Now let’s try to find a place where they can be in a different place and he can step in and help the team get to the next level.”

Wolfe said discussions are still ongoing and there are certain teams Arenado would prefer not to join.

“It’s more of a question of, ‘Would you be OK with this team, this team?'” Wolfe said. “We don’t want to waste (Mozeliak’s) time. There are some clear no’s as to where he would prefer not to go. So the discussion about how it’s going to work has been dynamic.”