While the Astros have been intent on trying to re-sign Alex Bregman this offseason, the club landed a potential third base backup option in Isaac Paredes, and is now looking at an even bigger option at the hot corner. The Athletic’s Chandler Rome reports that Houston has “emerged as a serious suitor for” Nolan Arenado’s services, though a trade isn’t “believed to be imminent.”
Since the Cardinals are looking to create more playing time for younger players and reduce payroll, the club has been open about its attempts to trade Arenado this offseason. The third baseman has a full no-trade clause but is open to waiving it in the right situation, as agent Joel Wolfe stressed that Arenado is only willing to leave St. Louis for “a team that he thinks is going to win now and consistently for the remainder of his career. He wants a team that has the throttle down….that he believes he can jump right in and they’re going to win right now.”
The Astros would seemingly fit that description as longtime playoff regulars who are trying to keep their contention window, but it is unclear if Arenado would have interest in going to Houston. The Dodgers, Padres, Angels, Phillies, Mets, and Red Sox are the six teams Arenado would reportedly be willing to play for, but it isn’t known if any clubs beyond this group would also meet his approval for a waiver of his no-trade privileges.
Beyond the no-trade clause, the Astros and Cardinals also have to work out the terms of the actual deal, and finances could present an obstacle. Rome writes that “the Astros will ask the Cardinals to help pay down” the $74MM owed to Arenado over the final three years of his contract. (Only $64MM is technically the Cards’ responsibility, as the Rockies are covering $10MM of that figure as per the term of the 2021 trade that brought Arenado from Colorado to St. Louis.) Whether or not the Cardinals are willing to cover any of Arenado’s salary is an open question, and if so, it’ll be a matter of whether they can match figures with the Astros or any other suitor, or if St. Louis is willing to take on an unwanted contract as salary offset.
Some additional baggage might stand in a way of an Astros/Cardinals trade in particular. Former Cardinals scouting director Chris Correa was found guilty in federal court over charges of illegally accessing the Astros’ proprietary baseball operations database in 2013 and 2014, and MLB punished the Cardinals by forcing them to give $2MM and their top picks in the 2017 draft to the Astros as punishment. Though Houston’s front office has since been overhauled and Chaim Bloom is set to replace John Mozeliak next year as the Cards’ next president of baseball operations, the two teams haven’t completed a trade with each other since 2012, hinting at some lingering bad blood.
Astros GM Dana Brown said yesterday that the team’s decision to trade Kyle Tucker (and get Paredes back in the trade package from the Cubs) didn’t indicate that anything changed in Houston’s pursuit of a reunion with Bregman. KPRC’s Ari Alexander also hears from a source that the Astros remain among “the strong four” top contenders for Bregman along with the Red Sox, Mets, and Yankees, with the Tigers and Blue Jays also linked to Bregman’s market.
Technically, a scenario exists where Houston could re-sign Bregman, install Arenado at first base, and then have Paredes at DH whenever Yordan Alvarez is in left field. But, more realistically, trading for Arenado would surely close the door on the chances of a reunion between Bregman and the Astros. Reports have indicated that Houston has offered Bregman a six-year, $156MM contract, but if he and his camp have indicated that a larger outlay is necessary, that might explain why the Astros now have given more attention to Arenado since the end of the Winter Meetings. With at least the Mets, Yankees, and Red Sox in on both third basemen, it make sense that the Astros would also explore both options out of due diligence.
They are serious…and don’t call them Shirley.
Joey, have you ever been in a… in a Turkish prison?
You ever seen a grown man naked?
Joey, do you like movies about Gladiators?
Vector, Victor
Roger, Rodger
Overrated movie. Guess that’s not my sense of humor because it took me a dozen years to get used to Leslie Nielsen as a comedic actor.
Erico Palazzo
Greatest umpire of all time.
Nah, that would have to be Robert DeNiro in “The Fan”. Now, that was funny!
The way Erico called balls and strikes and cleaned off the plate is classic though
@bucket. I didn’t like it the first time I watched it. The more I watched it, the more I liked it. Using actors known for melodrama in absurd roles was genius.
Love Airplane. For me Blazing Saddles was a highly overrated movie. Watched it twice trying to understand why people rave about it. Found it boring both times.
Better than Angel
This man has to be gotten to a hospital.
A hospital, doctor what is it?
It’s a big building with patients, but that’s not important right now.
Still the funniest movie of all time.
With them getting Bellinger grime the Cubs, I’d love to See Goldschmidt and Arenado lad on the Yankees infield for 2025!!!
They’d be the icing on the cake for a 2025 World Series Ring!!!!
With adding Fried as a starting pitcher, Williams as another close, Bellinger in center, plus Goldschmidt and Arenado to the Yankee infield ….. Equals a World Series winner at far far, far, less than it would have cost them to sign Soto!!!!!!
I just don’t understand these teams
I understand putting paredes at first and arenado at third all for a year of Tucker and basically nothing for Nolan
That covers it pretty well. I’d add that they should still have the dough/pieces to get an outfielder as well.
Paredes might be a Cardinal in this scenario.
Why would the Astros trade either their starting 3rd baseman or starting 1st baseman?
They could (should) be able to have both on the same roster since arenado won’t cost anything except a huge contract
I wouldn’t bet on that happening. Paredes profiles extremely well at Minute Maid.
They changed the name while we were sleeping.
Paredes is not going anywhere
Stocking up on third baseman- Nolan cant play first
Nor should he
Yeah, I think the teams don’t match up that well. Moving Arenado to first is insane. He is a better defender than Bregman. Cards want prospects for Arenado, and at least some salary relief, not exactly what the Astros want. Probably just a bluff to get Bregman to take the 153 deal.
Paredes can though.
There are so many cheap RH 1B bats they can add for so much less.
Name one.
Garrett Cooper, Ty France, Paul Goldschmidt, Yuli Gurriel, Connor Joe, Justin Turner.
Let’s not forget Donnie Barrels and Mark Canha
Or they could trade for Torkelson which had been floated in an article earlier in the offseason. Signing Walker wouldn’t cost that much more than what Arenado will make and he is a gold glivex1B with good offensive stats. No decline with Walker. You are bang on with your comment “Superstar Prospect Wander Javier”. Rizzoli would fit on your list too.
Or Santana, switch hitter
None are close to as good and most are negative WAR. Try again.
Santana and Walker are.
I wouldn’t call some of those cheap. 6 to 20 million range. That 6 could easily be 10. The ones less than that I wouldn’t call good options.
Walker is 2 years older than Arenado. He was projected to make about what Arenado would cost and had about the same WAR. So not cheaper or better.
Torkelson has a -0.3 WAR. Not better.
Walker is neither cheaper nor better. He is expected to make as much in free agency as Arenado would cost and they are about the same WAR.
Santana may be both.
Walker has better offensive stats than Arenado and if Arenado plays 1B he won’t be worth as much in terms of WAR. No-one said Tork was better last year but his name has come up, as has Walkers in relation to filling Houstons 1B gap. I read that Santana had the same WAR as Walker this year and he is definitely cheaper.
Walker is a month older
He’s offered to play 1B for any team and would transition just fine. But he SHOULD play 3B. Competing would want that defensive value.
He would probably be a gold glove first baseman.
Why in the world would you think he couldn’t play first?
He has said he would be willing to switch to first base for a team, if need be.
a team that he thinks is going to win now and consistently for the remainder of his career. He wants a team that has the throttle down….that he believes he can jump right in and they’re going to win right now.”
Don’t think angels fit
Agreed. Looks like he has a southern california bias
He should be begging to come to the Mets then
No thanks.
108 OPS+ 2023
101 OPS+ 2024
The Angels are in his home town, backyard. That’s why the fit despite the other criteria
The Cardinals gonna take back Paredes?
This doesn’t make any sense
Why not? He’s much cheaper and under 30.
Why would the Astros do that? If they had money to spend they could have just signed Bregman. Paredes to the Cardinals sounds interesting i just don’t understand why the Astros would do this.
Bregman at $200m vs Arenado at what might be $50-60m.
Arenado is way cheaper than Bregman, and the Astros are looking to cut payroll. Makes perfect sense.
Bregman is going to be a Yankee, but will Arenado wave his no trade for Houston?
I’m not so sure. I think the Tigers might actually be the frontrunner for him. They can easily afford him and I just read the Tigers brought in his old hitting coach on top of having his old manager. I think they will go hard for Sasaki as well, which would make the Cobb signing make more sense (although i think it is a good signing anyway).
Is Kenta Maeda the only Japanese player Detroit has ever had? I dunno…the Tokyo/Detroit nexus doesn’t seem very dynamic.
Hahaha Tokyo/Detroit nexus!
They had Hideo Nomo I believe for a very short forgettable period…kind of like having Maeda. Hopefully he will suck less this year!
Paredes is perfect for Houston. Not sure they would trade his perfect swing.
One would play 1b one 3b. Paredes mostly 1b.
Playing for the Astros might reinvigorate Arenado. Astros are still a good team, and I think he’d do well in that ballpark. I really think Arenado is one of those guys that plays better with a competitive team.
If he played better, they would have been very competitive.
Arenado was not the only problem and by far not the worst problem on that Cardinals team.
Goldy’s average dropped 80 points in 2 years time.
That happened because something had to give so hw could cheat for power. Arenado will have the same happen to him.
Houston is a fourth place team in the west without Tucker and Bregman. Paredes and Arenado aren’t going to change that. They are waving the flag.
Astros might be a fourth place team without those pieces, but they are in the AL West. The state of Texas is the AL west right now. Nothing else is a significant threat. Seattle is always trash, the A’s have to catch lightning in a bottle, and the Angels are in a pit.
The A’s are on the way up and I believe they will surprise next year. Seattle is a few bats short but they will hang in the race with their pitching. The Angels are a mess.
Seattle had been “a few bats short” for 20 years.
Angels 2025 WS Champs!!! You heard it here first! Trout will hit 50 hrs, steal 30 bags. Rendon 25 hr, 100 rbi. Kikuchi wins 20 games with a sub 3 era.
Love the enthusiasm. Go Angels!
Seattle 3.5 games out last season, 1 game out from a playoff spot; 2023 Seattle 1 game back from winning AL West, 2022 they were in the playoffs. Not quite trash.
I’m more likely to go 25/100 in the show this year than Rendon and his health history.
You’re more likely to go 25/100 in MLB The Show. But only if you really apply yourself.
Disagree. Still ahead of the angels anf a’s. And texas and seattle have alot of flaws thst have gone unaddressed at this time. Astros still competitive and the gap between the teams has shrunk
Until someone actually beats them, they are the defending AL West champions. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.
Forth place team? lol. That is wishful thinking.
Batting 1 for 12 in playoff games for the Cardinals. 5 for 33 in his career. He’s had chances.
Why did they get Paredes
Paredes can play 1B, so he can fill that hole if this Arenado trade does become a reality.
Or – go to St. Louis
Savant shows Paredes would hit more home runs in Houston than at any other park. (St. Louis, on the other hand, is tied for second worst.)
Paredes to the cards would work because ok f the pay roll
Makes no sense. The Cards are a mess, crying poor, bad farm system and an over the hill big league roster. No chance HOU is gonna let Tucker go and possible Bregman to bring in Arenado. Someone from the Cards leaked this garbage. Mo is desperate.
While I’ll say they are sort of a mess and who really knows about their money, who is over the hill? Nolan won’t be a Cardinal in 25 so we can eliminate him. Mats and Mikolas will both be gone after this year (if not sooner). Even with Goldschmidt, Carpenter, and Nolan last year they still had an average age of 27
Slider, did you have a religious conversion? You have been on your best behavior the past year.
Makes perfect sense. They’re trying to shed payroll but remain competitive. In their mind, letting Bregman walk and replacing him with Arenado at half the price (or less) accomplishes that.
Arenado is making 27 million in 2025. How much is Bregman gonna make?
Trading for him better idea then giving Bregman the crazy contract he wants, particularly if get Cards to pay $5 million a year. Plus Arenado a much nicer person than ahole Bregman.
Is Bregman an a-hole? Do you know him personally? Or just because he played for the Trashtros?
Arenado will only go to the Dodgers. This Houston nonsense along with the Angels blah blah is just hype to get the Dodgers up their meager offer. They will only take him if the Cardinals kick in serious money or take Chris Taylor and his garbage contract, which they won’t do.
Arenado and “nice guy” don’t often appear in the same sentence. He’s super intense, self-obsessed, and tends to sulk.
Sulk is not the correct term.
I still laugh at the wanting to play for a contender line being followed by “willing to play for the Angels.”
True those two don’t go together, but the Angels are home for him, so I think in reality, it’s “wants to play for a contender…or play at home”.
My vision sucks I read it as angels serious about arenado
That throttle down comment eliminates the Reds.
I like watching Arenado play third base. What a talented defensive player.
As long as it ain’t Dodgers, think Arenado has seen his best days.
Why so serious, son?
Shaping up to be quite a nice tank job down there in houston
Don’t look at Paredes’ expected park factors at Statcast.
Cam Smith helps their farm system, but not by much. They’re probably due for another tank job to restock the depleted farm.
As long as Alvarez and Altuve are there they can win. People still sleeping on those boys
They should keep contending until attendance drops. And they can contend.
If prior reporting is to believed, Arenado is only willing to waive his no trade for 6 teams and Houston is not one of the 6. Mo was a rule maker when he landed Goldy and Arenado when their teams gave them away. Looks like Mo is finding out what it’s like to be a rule taker in a trade this time around.
Prior reporting was that six of the teams he was willing to waive his clause for had been mentioned, but that there could be more. It was not that there were only six.
As a Mariner’s fan, I’d like to get Arenado if they eat the money and the price is reasonable.
Also as a Mariners fan, I’d much rather the Astros have Arenado than Bregman & Tucker!
I think we’re going to resign Ty France and try him at third. He played there in college I think. Bring the band back!
Have to give prospects to get salary down. He isn’t that bad of a contract.
Saying that not making a trade with each other since 2012 is a hint at bad blood seems like a stretch to me.
I would guess there are other teams that havent completed a trade with one another in that same timeframe or longer.
That whole hacking their computer system for scouting info may have just a bit to do with bad blood between the two franchises.
Thank you for assisting with my point.
Unless you were being sarcastic I just showed you were wrong.
On the contrary.
This indicates more that the Astros want Bregman back and are trying to reduce his price.
All these moves are ruining Dave Dombrowski’s vacation. He is trying to get some rest meanwhile he keeps getting MLB notifications on his phone.
No way this is true. Why would they shed the salary of one of MLB’s best players to take on a higher salary for a washed up 3B? My take is that they are using this to pressure Bregman to accept their latest offer (“we need you to decide now or else we need to move on to other options.”). They have zero interest in Arenado.
Arenado will likely cost them about 15 mil/yr, and have a set end to the contract after three years. Going with either Bregman or Tucker would cost WAY more and for way more years. They wanted to trade Tucker while he still had trade value, knowing they weren’t going to make the investment long term.
Arenado would cost 3/64 if the Cardinals don’t eat some of his contract. Bregman is asking for Machado money. 7/200 is almost a certainty.
Maybe the Cards will take Monetero back in the deal instead of sending cash along. Might as well get the bounce back candidate
He’s going to the Yankees says my magic 8-ball
I think you need to stop playing with your ball(s),
Please take him. Get him out of the nl central.
I dont this will come to fruition. First arenado is expensive and the cards wont pay down his salary that much. Second, they can bring in a cheaper 1b and keep paredes at 3b. Third, i dont think he waives the no trade clause for an organization woth budget restraints. I do think arenado would bounce back some with his bat, i just dont think it makes sense financially if yhey are operating on such a limited budget
Yeah the Crawford boxes are screaming for Arenado!
Trade Valdez make room
I don’t like this if I’m a Astros fan. I want Tucker, I want bregman, don’t bring me an old has been with a massive contract.
It’s not an apples to apples comparison. They’re trying to save money. Both Bregaman and Tucker would cost them a ton of money long term. Arenado will cost them about $15 mil/yr short term.
Fans don’t know what’s good for them. Just win and they will be happy.
I really don’t understand the Astros plan. Either they’re in rebuild mode by trading Tucker or they just want to be a worse team for some reason…If I’m an Astros fan, I’m extremely frustrated, but as a person who hopes for a Mariners world series title one day, which is about as possible as pigs one day being able to fly, I love watching Dana Brown and Jim Crane ruin this once fine and competent organization.
I hope your team wins a world series in your lifetime too. If the Cubs,Red Sox and White Sox can all break their “curse/championship droughts” all within 12 years of each other. I think the Mariners can finally break through and at least get a taste of the world series and win a pennant and then win a world series shortly after.
It’s just gonna be hard to beat the NL with the Dodgers,Phillies and even the Mets competing for the next decade.
Rebuild would be trading all their expiring players for prospects. Fielding a 60 win team for a year or 2 while prospects develop.
Tucker was just a baseball move. They lose that trade this year but will get value from it in future years.
They’re trying to save money but remain competitive. Trading for Arenado does that. Much cheaper than Bregman now, or Tucker in a year, and shorter term commitment, while still getting a solid player.
The acknowledgement that the Astros are no longer a championship caliber team is not the same as ruining them. Ruining them would be to let Tucker play out and get nothing in return, while re-signing Bregman to a long contract which will be an albatross in 2-3 years.
Huston may be the only team which has “emerged as a serious suitor for” Nolan Arenado’s services, Why would they want a high paid third baseman who is in the declining years of his career. I’ll take Bregman.
Because Bregman would cost WAY more for way longer term, and they’re trying to save money.
31 year old Bregman who is asking for Machado money? Who will almost certainly get 7/200 for his years in decline?
Astros got Paredes because his profile fits that park. He will hit 25-30 HR there and play passable defense at 3B or 1B. They also got the future at 3B in Cam Smith. When he is ready at the end of 2025 or early 2026 Paredes would have been moving to 1B anyway.
Bregman’s days in Houston are over. The only question for him is what other team is going to hands him a big fat bag of cash since it will not be the Astros.
I also don’t think Arenado is destined for Houston. After the return in the Tucker trade included two 3B, that just doesn’t make sense.
I don’t think this has legs because the Astros don’t have many pieces to offer… other than Valdez, and that’s not happening.
They don’t have to offer much. The whole point from the Cards perspective is to shed salary. They’d be looking for the other team to take about 75% of Arenado’s contract and would only expect a mediocre/project prospect in return.
The Cardinals aren’t going to get much back unless they chip in a whole lot of money (which defeats the purpose).
For St. Louis, best case scenario is someone like Zach Dezenzo – an org’s top 5-10 prospect, 40+ rating, who has a little juice but doesn’t look like a superstar.
That’s about all the Cardinals are going to get back. It’s not going to be a big haul.
Really what’s happening is the Cubs are in the Astros ear. Cubs said they will give them another prospect in return for Arenado (cards not dealing with Cubs). Astros will eat a bit of the money but will get the Cubs prospect they were discussing as part of the Tucker deal.
Arenado has 4/76M on his deal. He may have had his worst year offensively in ’24 but 18M per not too bad considering his glove work and the current state of the market. He may be at the tail end of his prime but still a potential .275/.325/.400 hitter. It’s not a bad deal to take on for a team that needs to add an impact player.
I agree.
The contract isn’t great, but it’s still a guy who plays virtually everyday, has elite defense, and is still a slightly above average offensive player. There’s still value in all those traits. He gets a bad rap because of what he’s owed, but if some of it is paid down, he’s a decent get.
Correct, short porch in Houston for a right, and he will get some protection.
Whatever team has Arenado will be on the hook for 3 years/62 million. That’s what’s left after what the Rockies are paying off. Considering the Cards will likely eat about 5 million/yr of that, and it’s not a bad contract at all.
3/74 and Rockies are still paying $10 million of that.
Well that’s interesting and sending mixed signals. The obvious thing is to move Parades to first and you’re set. A few years of Arenado takes you up to Smith if he develops and still compete despite losing Tucker.
At the same time, taking on Nolan will negate somewhat the very real need to shed more payroll. A Pressley subtraction will still help, but maybe less so if this deal goes down. I’m sure as stated they want the Cards to pay a bit here.
Still, though…
Odd way to go about business tbh.
Cards will likely pay about 5 mil/yr. That leaves you with a roughly 16 mil/yr contract for three years for Arenado. That’s way cheaper than keeping Bregman.
Oh no doubt, but even without Bregman now they needed to subtract Pressley to get down to amount they want.
Why would the Astros want an expensive 3rd baseman who is coming off of two mediocre offensive seasons and even his haunted defense was rather pedestrian last year??
He was a gold glove finalist last year. It was the year before, when he was playing hurt all year, that his defense was down. He’ll likely also only cost them about $16mil/yr, so that’s not a back-breaker in this day and age.
I would point out that Soto was a “gold glove finalist” so that tag carries no credibility. Nevertheless your points are valid.
Who is running the Astros?? Their mascot. I get the money and all but moving this for that idiot moves
I don’t believe Arenado’s demand is actually this high, but just a way to make Bregman think his own market is falling out. Scare tactic to maybe get them questioning whether they should really hold out for a 7th year. Supposedly Bregman / Boras are wanting a 200m deal and I think Houston is the most likely suitor to spend the highest amount, but I don’t think it’ll be more than 7 years and 180m.
It would be very, very shocking if Crane gave a 31 year-old declining third base a seven year contract. I hope they don’t do that
Has Houston ever gone 7 years on a contract?
I was surprised they offered 6 tbh.
Not to my recollection, at least under the current ownership. I believe Altuve is six, so is Alvarez. I would be comfortable with five for Bregman, somewhat uncomfortable with six but… maybe
Altuve is 5 years. I think 6 is too long for Bregman.
Serious question. Other than the players they just received for Tucker, who do the Astros have that the Cardinals would want?
It’s possible they could be interested in Whitcomb, Dezenzo or Bryce Mathews. My best guess is Whitcom would be the most disposable one. He’s put up awesome numbers in AAA but nothing in the majors
Agree!
They don’t have to have anything. The Cards are just trying to dump salary here. Any receiving team for Arenado, as long as they are willing to pick up 75% or more of Arenado’s contract, are going to have to give up very little to get him.
I agree the Astros have slim pickings. If you’re the Cardinals you are obviously going to take the best available trade. I would be surprised if the Cardinals really wanted any of those Astro prospects. I’d also be very surprised if the Astros traded away Matthews or Dezenzo. After all, the system is not deep
Shoot. I just mentioned Dezenzo above. Should have looked deeper before hitting send.
I agree with both of you. The Astros probably aren’t willing to give up those higher rated, low-level shortstops, so they’ll probably get one of these random 40+ guys from some team.
Declining defense. Maybe 20 homers, 425 slug maybe. Would love for it to screw the Astros and cards. Don’t know why Houston wouldn’t leave parades at third and look for the simpler 1st base upgraade. Cards could use but are not taking parades late in arb. Walker and Gorman were both natural 3b. Ones going back (Gorman) and they’ll use someone like saggesse or Donovan at 2b
I think the Polar Bear would be a good fit at first base in Houston.
Maybe. I hope not as an al West fan, I think Alonso is good. The Astros won with gurriell having more of a 456789 offensive profile and been great. Though you could argue Alvarez should be dhing or playing first. If they add another 1b hitter profile they might still be scary offensively minus Tucker and likely bregman. +Paredes at third. Resign bregman and move Isaac to first, he doesn’t seem like a 1b….but would be the best they’ve had in almost a decade, and their offense is right back there even without Tucker. They shouldn’t (hope they do) screw up and trade for arrenado, but disliking the Cardinals and Astros, I hope it happens
The window in Houston is not closed. The entire rotation they signed internationally for peanuts.. and they’re all freaking 2 starters, extends their window beyond where it should be. Owner spending will be the other determinant in keeping it going. Just added some nice young depth in the Tucker trade
If the Astros want the Cards to take some of the salary, this looks like a good way to dump the Montero contract on them.
Ah, I pity the fool that would take that contract.
Would be nice for the Stros but best-case scenario is Montero rediscovers his form from ’22.
If the Cardinals don’t pay most of it down to maximize the marginal return, I don’t see how their always demanding fans don’t go nuts. With Goldy gone, matz maybe traded, there’s no way Dewitt should not pay the majority of arenados salary to increase return. They have no pieces besides him, helsley, Donovan, matz. That’s not going to replenish a crappy farm. They need to get creative fast to not get stuck in mediocrity hell for 5 years
Any talks about Arenado should start with McCullers going back to the Lou.
Just acquiring him for some salary relief and a lottery-ticket minor leaguer erases the space below the the luxury tax created by acquiring Tucker. Plus they’re still paying Abreu, Pressly, and Montero.
of those three mentioned, Abreu, Presley, Montero; Presley is at least still productive and viable.
Please dont turn this page into a rumor mill.
You are now on a site called mlbtraderumors.
Eff the Astros anyway.
The Cardinals can keep Arenado and see if he bounces back. If Nado doesn’t like it, then expand the teams they can trade with.
Who’s Rome? Jim Rome? The story should include the writer’s first name.
Chandler Rome. The Astros beat reporter.
Thanks.
This works for the Astros, especially if they could find away to unload Pressly in the deal. Arenado’s salary drops from $32 to $27 million in ’26 and from $27 to $16 million in ’27, far less than what Bregman will be getting during that time frame (and beyond)
It’s especially attractive if the Cardinals will pay some of it
As always, the changing salary for a player is irrelevant to a team except for saving a few bucks on the NPV. That it’s frontloaded only costs the Astros _more_ money than otherwise.
As for the AAV it’s roughly $25m a year, less by the amount it’s paid down.
Astros woulda been better off trading tucker for arenado + cards 1st pick jj
Like the Cardinals would do that for 1 year of Tucker whom they could never resign at $400M+
Then why did the cubs trade cam smith for 1 yr of tucker? They think they can outbid dodgers yanks mets?
Because Smith is nothing special and was #7 on their prospect list.
If cards wanted to contend they wouldn’t be trading Nolan.
Nolan Arenado come home it’s time to come home Angels
The Astros won the Tucker trade. Do they really now want to add this year’s Josh Donaldson? The Cards won’t be paying Arenado’s salary down by much. Why, with Paredes capable of handling 3B, would you want to add an expensive antique in severe decline and move your 3-4 fWAR 3Bman to a less valuable position?
You wouldn’t take Arenado for nothing but salary if he was offered for free, but this sounds like the Astros might actually give up a living breathing, mildly useful player.
“and is now looking at an even bigger option at the hot corner.”
—Good god. There is about a 1% chance Arenado outperforms Paredes for 2025-2027.
If Philly unloads Bohm. Arenado to the Phillies 100%.
“I want a team that will win right now, and is built to win consistently for the remainder of my career.”
“The Yankees haven’t had a losing season in 30 years and made the World Series last year.”
“…nah, I want the Angels”
How are the Astros serious suitors when they are not even on Arenados approved list ?
Framber is grabbing more peanuts as he reads this – he’d be ecstatic at the idea of Nado manning the hot corner.
The destruction of the St. Louis Cardinals brought to you by John Mozeliak and the DeWitt family.