The Houston Astros’ pursuit of free agent third baseman Nolan Arenado has led to uncertainty about the team’s long-term outlook, particularly regarding star Alex Bregman. Despite initial interest in signing Bregman, the Astros now face a renewed focus on acquiring Arenado.
According to league sources, Arenado declined to waive his no-trade clause, opting not to make a decision this early in the offseason. The Cardinals and Astros will continue conversations about a potential trade. However, it remains unclear whether the Astros will maintain their interest in Arenado or shift their attention to other options.
The Astros’ pursuit of Bregman has not changed since Kyle Tucker’s trade to the Chicago Cubs. General manager Dana Brown stated that Bregman’s status is still unchanged and that the team had offered him a six-year deal worth around $156 million.
Arenado presented Cardinals president John Mozeliak with a short list of teams he’d be willing to waive his no-trade clause for, which initially included the Astros. The Cardinals are motivated to trade Arenado due to his contract, which includes $74 million owed over the next three seasons.
If a deal is reached, the Cardinals would save approximately $5 million per year, while the Astros would cover the remaining amount of around $45 million after factoring in deferrals.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6004944/2024/12/18/cardinals-nolan-arenado-astros-trade