DALLAS — Nolan Arenado is reportedly considering a trade away from the St. Louis Cardinals. At 33 years old, he is eager to join a team in pursuit of a World Series title. Arenado’s agent, Joel Wolfe, expressed at the recent winter meetings that the athlete feels time is of the essence. Wolfe explained, “It’s like his biological clock is ticking. If the team isn’t achieving success, it’s something that weighs heavily on him daily, even during the offseason. He takes it personally, as though the burden rests entirely on his shoulders.”
Arenado, an accomplished player with eight All-Star selections and ten Gold Glove awards, has indicated his willingness to transition to a first-base position. His performance this past season saw him post a .272 batting average, alongside 16 home runs and 71 RBIs, marking his least productive year in a decade.
The Cardinals brought Arenado on board from the Colorado Rockies before the 2021 season. However, the team faced setbacks in the playoffs, exiting in the wild-card round during his initial two years and subsequently missing the playoffs for the last two years. Wolfe acknowledged the Cardinals’ shift in strategy, saying, “The Cardinals are changing direction, which is perfectly acceptable as teams evolve. If they believe a trade could be advantageous and maintain an open dialogue about it, Nolan understands and is ready to explore options that align with teams in a better position, where he can make a significant impact to elevate their performance.”
Throughout his major league journey, Arenado has participated in 1,629 games, exclusively at third base. His excellence was recognized with Gold Glove awards from 2013 through 2022, a streak that set him alongside Ichiro Suzuki for the most consecutive wins in the first ten seasons.
Arenado communicated to the Cardinals’ president of baseball operations, John Mozeliak, his openness to switching positions. “If that would facilitate Mo’s efforts in identifying an appropriate team, Nolan is fully prepared to be flexible,” Wolfe stated. He further quoted Arenado as saying he would not mind taking on first base, believing he could still secure a Gold Glove in that role if it meant contributing to the team’s success.
Arenado, who has a career batting average of .285, has hit 341 home runs and recorded 1,132 RBIs playing for both the Cardinals and Rockies. His current contract, valued at $275 million over nine years, has $74 million remaining across the last three seasons. Additionally, he holds a full no-trade clause, granting him control over his future destination.
Wolfe mentioned that discussions surrounding potential teams are ongoing, emphasizing, “It’s a matter of assessing which teams Nolan would feel comfortable joining. We don’t want to waste Mo’s time, and there are some teams that Nolan prefers to avoid. It’s a fluid conversation regarding how this process will unfold.”
