Inside The Cardinals

Why Red Sox Could Be Stalling Blockbuster Trade For Cardinals Slugger Nolan Arenado

St. Louis might have to wait to move the fan favorite
Nate Hagerty|
Aug 12, 2022; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) is congratulated after hitting a solo home run against the Milwaukee Brewers in the sixth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Puetz-Imagn Images
Aug 12, 2022; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) is congratulated after hitting a solo home run against the Milwaukee Brewers in the sixth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Puetz-Imagn Images | Joe Puetz-Imagn Images

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The St. Louis Cardinals are nearly two months away from Opening Day 2025 but haven't made any significant moves this winter to help improve the roster.

Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak was not pleasantly welcomed by some fans on Saturday at the organization's annual Winter Warm-Up. In his final offseason as head honcho for St. Louis, it's safe to say Mo is dropping the ball.

Trading superstar third baseman Nolan Arenado is the Cardinals' top priority. However, Mozeliak can't find a middle ground for the fan favorite and whatever organization he's attempted to complete a deal with. Perhaps the eight-time All-Star will be shipped up to the Boston Red Sox once the market dies down.

"Sources continue to indicate that adding a right-handed bat is still Boston’s top priority with bullpen help being looked at as a secondary need," MassLive's Chris Cotillo wrote Sunday. "Free agent Alex Bregman and Cardinals trade candidate Nolan Arenado remain the two big-name — yet imperfect — fits the Red Sox have considered. Boston could be waiting on either Bregman (short-term deal?) or the Cardinals (salary dump?) to get desperate as spring training draws closer."

Arenado has three years and $74 million remaining on his contract -- $10 million of which is to be paid by the Colorado Rockies. It's possible the Red Sox could be trying to place pressure on the Cardinals so that they'll eat a significant portion of the 10-time Gold Glove defender's deal to move him.

The Houston Astros had already attempted to poach Arenado from the Cardinals but the five-time Silver Slugger vetoed the deal. What's shocking is that St. Louis was willing to eat $15-20 million of the veteran slugger's contract to move him.

It's tough to predict whether Arenado will be moved this winter. Rumors indicate his market has been relatively quiet, so perhaps we'll have to wait for the Cardinals to get desperate before he's dealt away.

More MLB: Cardinals Narrowly Missed Opportunity To Trade Nolan Arenado To AL West Contender

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Nate Hagerty
NATE HAGERTY

Nate Hagerty joined “Inside The Cardinals” as a content creator to spread knowledge about his favorite childhood team. A hometown native of Boston, Hagerty chose at an early age of six years old to follow the St. Louis Cardinals. The miraculous season of 04’ for the Red Sox did not deter Hagerty from rooting against his hometown team, nor did it in 2013 against the Red Birds. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding Inside The Cardinals, please reach out to Scott Neville: nevilles@merrimack.edu 

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