MLB Trade Rumors: Unexpected Team Acquires Nolan Arenado in Proposed Deal

His name has been at the top of nearly everyone's trade boards since late last season. Nolan Arenado wants to get himself to a winning situation. And the St. Louis Cardinals would like to accommodate him, as they continue their rebuild.

But Arenado turned down a potential deal to the Houston Astros during the offseason, and one of his top choices in the spring, Boston, went out and signed third baseman Alex Bregman. His No. 1 destination, the LA Dodgers, doesn't seem to be interested at this point.

So who else is out there with a need and an ability to strike a deal with the Cards for Arenado?

According to ex-MLB GM Jim Bowden, writing in The Athletic, the Detroit Tigers are a good fit. He proposes this potential trade:

Detroit Tigers receive:

3B Nolan Arenado

St. Louis Cardinals receive:

RHP Josh Randall
3B Carson Rucker

The Tigers have busted out of the gate with the best record in the American League, at 22-13, looking to build on their first playoff appearance in 10 years last season. It could be a desirable destination for Arenado.

Ironically, they were one of the teams that had great interest in Bregman as a free agent, before he signed with the Red Sox. And the Tigers, in fact, offered him more money than Boston.

Detroit's third base situation was then, and is now, very weak, as they sit 21st in the majors in both OPS and batting average out of the position. Arenado is having a solid start to the season. As Bowden notes, "His veteran leadership would also be invaluable to the Tigers, who have a young roster".

In return, the Tigers would send a couple of young prospects to the Cards. Randall, a right-hander, is Detroit's #16 prospect per MLB Pipeline (but higher in other rankings), while Rucker, potentially the third baseman of the future, is #22. Both are recent MLB Draft picks, and are currently in A-ball.

They may not be high-end prospects, but as the insider notes, the Cardinals would just be happy to get Arenado's money off the books (something close to $60M including deferred payments, though they'd be expected to pick up some of it in a trade) and make room for younger players.

We recently discussed another top team that could use Arenado's services pretty badly.