MLB Rumors: Cardinals Could Make Shocking Move With Nolan Arenado

November 26, 2025
St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado reacts during 2025 game.

The St. Louis Cardinals fired a loud warning shot by shipping Sonny Gray and $20 million to the Boston Red Sox for pitching prospects Brandon Clarke and Richard Fitts. 

That move was as much about money and direction as it was about roster fit, and it instantly swung the spotlight to Nolan Arenado. The veteran third baseman has two years and $42 million left on his deal, and after a down season, the combination of his age, salary and team direction has made him the obvious next domino in St. Louis. 

ESPN’s Buster Olney even suggested it seems “inevitable” the Cardinals will trade or move on from Arenado before 2026, with a dramatically leaner payroll potentially dipping below the Cincinnati Reds.

Cardinals’ stance on Arenado after the Sonny Gray blockbuster

New president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom has already made one aggressive salary move with Gray, backing up earlier reports that the Cardinals are now willing to eat money to move veterans. That naturally sparked talk of an Arenado trade or even an outright release, but Bloom has publicly ruled out cutting him loose, telling local reporters there’s no appetite to simply release the eight-time All-Star. 

That leaves a trade as the realistic path. Arenado still controls his fate with a no-trade clause, though multiple reports indicate he is more open to waiving it than he was last offseason, when his preferred list reportedly centered on the Red Sox, San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros.

Despite offensive decline, national writers still view Arenado as a useful everyday piece. CBS Sports roundtable voices projected him as roughly a two-win player over a full season thanks to his still-elite defense at third base, especially if St. Louis is willing to cover a big chunk of the remaining money. 

That is exactly what the Gray deal just signaled. With Sonny’s contract and Arenado’s future off the books or heavily subsidized, Bloom would have a much clearer picture of his spending power going into 2026 and beyond, and more room to prioritize younger, cheaper talent around Willson Contreras and the next core.

Which teams make the most sense for a Nolan Arenado trade?

On the fit side, MLB.com’s Mike Petriello floated the Los Angeles Angels as the most logical landing spot. They just endured some of the worst third-base production in baseball, Anthony Rendon is effectively out of the picture, and the club still behaves like a would-be contender. 

Arenado grew up in Southern California and went to high school closer to Angel Stadium than Dodger Stadium, which adds a personal layer that can matter when a no-trade clause is involved. The question is whether a player chasing wins would sign off on a move to an Angels team that just went 72–90.

Elsewhere, CBS analysts tossed out the Philadelphia Phillies and Detroit Tigers as strong candidates if the Cardinals are willing to eat salary.

Photo Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images

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