Cardinals’ Nolan Arenado uses no-trade clause to block trade to Astros

Cadinals star Nolan Arenado blocked a potential trade to the Astros in recent days, MLB.com reported. 

The Cardinals were working on sending Arenado, who has three years and $74 million left on his current contract, and $15-20 million to Houston until the eight-time All-Star told the club he wouldn’t waive his no-trade clause, per the report. 

Earlier this month, the outlet reported that Arenado had the Dodgers, Padres and Angels on his “wish list” and would also be “willing to accept a trade to the Phillies, Mets or Red Sox.”

The Athletic reported Wednesday that Arenado did not want to make this type of decision early in the offseason.

The two teams, per the outlet, are expected to continue discussions.

“All I can say is that we were in talks with multiple teams, and we still are, but I have nothing pending,” Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said Wednesday. “We’re still working on a lot of things, and hopefully we have clarity as we get into the new year.”

During the winter meetings, it was revealed that Arenado, who has long been one of the top third basemen in baseball, was on the trade block. 

“[Having Arenado remain a Cardinal] is a possibility, but I’m not sure that puts us where we want to be,” Mozeliak said on Dec. 9. “From a financial standpoint of trying to move our payroll, there are certainly other ways to do that, but [dealing Arenado] would be a big help. It’s financial, but it also creates a runway for someone else.”

“These decisions are not something we ever take lightly,” Mozeliak added. “[Arenado] is not demanding a trade. He’s not telling me I have to do it, but I think in the best interest of both sides, I’d like to try to find him someplace to land.”

Arenado, who turns 34 in April, hit .272/.325/.394 with 16 home runs for the Cardinals in 2024. 

His .719 OPS was the lowest he’d had over a full season since his rookie year with the Rockies (.706).

A 10-time Gold Glove winner at the hot corner, Arenado has received NL MVP votes in six different seasons and won five Silver Slugger awards. 

Arenado was traded from the Rockies, with whom he spent the first eight MLB seasons, to the Cardinals in 2021, just two years after signing an eight-year, $260 million contract extension.