The St. Louis Cardinals started their spring training, but the team’s efforts to trade star third baseman Nolan Arenado remain stalled. Despite attempting to move Arenado since the offseason, the club has found no taker for the 33-year-old.
Arenado, a six-time All-Star and eight-time All-Star, underachieved last season with a .272 average and 16 home runs in 152 games. The Cardinals are willing to consider trade offers from five teams: the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and Los Angeles Angels.
General manager John Mozeliak acknowledged that Arenado’s no-trade clause was invoked during discussions with the Houston Astros last offseason. However, he remains optimistic about finding a suitable trade partner. “We’re adults,” Mozeliak said. “There may be some awkwardness, but we understand that once you’re here, you’re pushing forward.”
Manager Oliver Marmol is taking a wait-and-see approach, focusing on the position players’ arrival and camp activities. “You operate as if he’s coming to camp, and my conversations with [Arenado] up to this point have been exactly that,” Marmol said.
The Cardinals allowed first baseman Paul Goldschmidt to leave via free agency last season, and now they’re waiting to see how things play out with Arenado. With three years left on his contract, the team is eager to find a suitable trade partner before the season begins.
Source: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/43816696/cardinals-stalemate-nolan-arenado-camp-opens