The possibility of the Los Angeles Dodgers adding All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado always seemed outlandish, not because the team wouldn’t successfully trade for him, but rather, the defending champions didn’t need him. As the offseason unfolded, Arenado’s more realistic suitors have pivoted and signed other players, leaving the St. Louis Cardinals urgently searching for a trade partner.
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Earlier this week, MLB insider Jeff Passan reported the Boston Red Sox as the most reasonable landing spot for Arenado.
“With the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers seen as long shots to make a move for Arenado, an eight-time All-Star third baseman, the Red Sox remain the landing spot that makes the most sense,” Passan wrote. “Though Arenado used his no-trade clause to block a deal to Houston this winter, he would waive it to end up in Boston, according to sources.”
However, after the team signed Alex Bregman, they’re out on the 10-time Gold Glove winner, which leaves the Bombers and Dodgers.
Cardinals insider John Denton also added the situation with Arenado’s salary that has shifted in St. Louis.
“A sticking point in any Arenado deal could come down to how much of the $64 million remaining on Arenado’s contract the Cardinals are willing to absorb,” Denton wrote. “Initial trade talks in early January broke down when the Cardinals refused to pay as much as $20 million toward the balance of Arenado’s contract, a source said. After failing to make much trade progress elsewhere throughout January, the Cardinals reengaged the Red Sox, Yankees and Dodgers about possible restructured deals for the star third baseman.”
It’s publicly known Arenado wants to out of St. Louis, but at this point, the Cardinals have been unable to find a trading partner since Arenado blocked a trade to the Houston Astros earlier in the offseason.
As for the Dodgers, general manager Brandon Gomes said the team would still consider other opportunities before the start of the 2025 season, signaling the team hasn’t closed the door on making another addition.
“On the other front, you never say never and we’ll continue to be opportunistic at looking at places at how to round out the roster,” Gomes said. But we feel very happy with what we’ve done to this point.”
The Dodgers haven’t openly conveyed their interest in Arenado, but the same could be said about other free agent signees such as Kirby Yates, Hyeseong Kim, and Michael Conforto.
If the Dodgers don’t actually have interest in Arenado, then the third baseman will likely be staying in St. Louis. And that certainly looks to be the case as president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said Arenado “is likely going to be a part our club at this point” heading into the new season.
If the Dodgers want Arenado before Opening Day — or at any point — it’s safe to assume they’d be able to get him. For now, though, that does not appear to be the case.
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Photo Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
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