The Cardinals expected to have traded Nolan Arenado by now. President of baseball operations John Mozeliak suggested at the Winter Meetings that a deal could come together within a week or two. That probably would've been the case had the eight-time All-Star not used his no-trade clause to kill talks about a move to the Astros.
That leaves St. Louis in an awkward position. They've publicly shopped Arenado. He's seemingly amenable to waiving his no-trade clause in certain circumstances. For whatever reason, he wasn't interested in going to Houston last month. Subsequent reporting indicated he could consider the Astros in the future, but the team moved on to Christian Walker almost immediately and no longer needs a corner infielder. The Cardinals need to look elsewhere.
Will Sammon and Katie Woo of the Athletic reported this week that there's been minimal traction on an Arenado trade since the Houston talks collapsed. The Yankees, long a speculative fit, are apparently not as interested as it first seemed. The YES Network's Jack Curry pushed back against that notion last week. Jon Heyman also suggested in a Bleacher Report live stream yesterday that the Yankees were more likely to stick with DJ LeMahieu than to go after Arenado.
Where does that leave Mozeliak and company?
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Do they plan on building a Coors field at home? Then, 0 teams
Arenado did not have a notable home road split and his best season was with the Cards. Try again.
2013: OPS was .174 higher at home
2014: .215 higher
2015: .125 higher
2016: .198 higher
2017: .150 higher
2018: .333 higher
2019: .191 higher
2020: .173 higher
His highest OPS as a Cardinal would’ve been higher than just his first 2 seasons as a Rockie, shorter than each of his final 5 seasons in Colorado. He had only 1 other .800 OPS season as a Cardinal outside of that year
Cardinals
He’s going nowhere unless Cards eat a lot of that contract. Even then, he’s picky about where he goes. I think he stays where he is.
Why do you think they Cardinals need to eat a lot of the contract?
Let’s calm down folks. Bregman is still available. I am sure talks will heat up once Bregman is signed.
@bita because the cardinals are over a barrel from Arenado and the acquiring team. Teams know they are on the approved list as soon as the cardinals contact them. That gives them the upper hand in every negotiation. Especially since nobody really needs Arenado because he needs to prove himself again after two okay years.
Even with the Rockies throwing in $10mil he was paid $57 million by the cards the last two years to put up 5 war
Bregman isn’t exactly exciting teams either. Not for the price he wants.
How about the last 3 years? How does the WAR per dollar equation work then? Little better right?
He was already paid for the last three years. His contract is going off what teams project of him in the future. No one thinks he will be a 4 WAR player for the next 8 years which he wants to be paid for.
I was talking about Arenado not Bregman. Arenado has 3 years left and his salary declines each year.
Arenado is dropping off a cliff and would be crazy to see how deep that cliff goes over the next three years.
That’s not true. He took bad at bats the last 2 years trying to play hero ball instead of doing his job. He’s not washed up if you think that you are wrong.
Yappy dog, you’re clowning yourself. Thanks for the entertainment. You truly have no idea what you’re talking about with Arenado. None.
black pink is that you?
Blackpink
In
The
Area
No of course not……..
Bregman had elbow surgery in early November. He is already hitting in the cages. Once he starts his throwing program in a couple of weeks offers will start coming in. I would think your Mets will be one of the teams talking to him seriously. He will be in uniform come the opening of camp in 40 days.
Teams do not know they are on the approved list for Arenado if the Cards call. Just look at Houston. They negotiated for weeks and then he turned it down.
Also, this “list” is fluid and changing. The Astros supposedly would’ve been a yes, but then they traded Tucker.
Houston preferred Arenado to Christian Walker, even having to give a piece back to the Cards. Arenado would’ve been a total of $1M cheaper over the 3 yrs.
The Cards prefer trading Arenado to shed salary in part because they want to give a youngster (Walker or Gorman) everyday play at 3rd. If teams are asking for the Cardinals to pay too much without giving anything decent back in return, I could see the Cards keeping Nado and trading Matz. Maybe a team has an injury or Arenado is playing better than last year, it’s not like moving him during the season is off-limits.
That’s what they said about votto then he was like 3rd in mvp at 37 years old
It was reported that he’d waive his NTC for 6 teams: Dodgers, Padres, Angels, Phillies, Mets, Red Sox. Think the Cards were hoping he forgot to list the Astros.
Because they owe him 3/64M and he’s worth about 3/48M?
Votto finished 16th in MVP voting at 37 years old.
I would think that is obvious. He is a $10m-$15m player being paid $25m. His WAR is in the 2-3 range and his WAA is around 0.5 per year over the past 2 seasons. He is unlikely to suddenly get significantly better.
Exactly
A 3 win 3b is worth 10 million a year?
Uh no
That’s a fact roob, no matter what anyone else says. Period. End of story. What would Arenado get paid in free agency? That’s the real cost a team will pay him. Nothing more.
3/60 like Walker got. Which is almost exactly what an acquiring team would have to pay since the Rockies are still paying another $10 million.
Yeap. The Astros preferred paying Arenado $59M while also giving up at least 1 player over taking Walker at $60M. Probably not a very highly touted prospect, but maybe one in the teens or 20s.
We don’t know the details on the Astros deal. Perhaps the cards were adding in money.
Even if the Astros weren’t getting cash, that doesn’t mean any other team values him at 20m per.
We do know those details. They were leaked and StL was eating a ton of cash. So top prospects were going to back StL in return. Prob 2 in top 10 for all the money they were willing to eat
Prob and who knows how much means you don’t know the details.
Thank you for this article. Great stuff. Tbh, since subscribing to the Front Office plan, I’ve been a bit disappointed in the amount of extra content I get from it. I’m hoping to see more “deep dive” articles like this. Thanks again!
I do not know if Arenado would okay the trade, but if he would, I think you may be wrong to discount the Royals as a partner here.
The Royals really want another bat in the line up and have been clear that they do not think Garcia is a long term solution at 3rd. There is no internal candidate. As far as money goes, for a deal like this I suspect the bump would be approved by Sherman. The contract only runs another three years and the AAV is not crazy at this point. I think the main sticking point might be what type of return the Cardinals would want.
There has been a lot of criticism about what has so far been a quiet off season for the Royals. Seems to many of us like a great time to take a gamble. A deal like this would go a long way in making the Royals fanbase happy with ownership.
Royals ain’t paying $30m for their 3B this year.
Arenado is owed 27, 22 then 15 million from the Cardinals, some of which is deferred.
I don’t think he would accept a trade to the Royals but perhaps he would. I agree it’s a good fit.
$10M is being paid by the Rockies. At $54M for 3 years, the contract is quite reasonable by today’s standards.
It’s 10 million off of 74 so it’s 64 that the Cardinals owe but some money is deferred so it’s more like 60 million.
Arenado is not a bat. 101 OPS+ and cratering.
Having Goldschmidt hitting behind you used to be a blessing. Then Goldy truly fell off a cliff. Makes it much harder for Arenado to get decent pitches when the guy behind him isn’t seeing the ball for enormous parts of the season. A different ball park would help, and so would hitting in front of many players who aren’t Goldy, including ones on the Cardinals. It took way too long for Goldy to get moved down the lineup last yr.
It’ll never happen, but he’d be a great temporary fit for the Cubs. His defense is still solid and if they put him in front of Tucker he’d get some pitches to hit. Shaw could stay at second and Hoerner could be used in a trade for another starter. But Cubs/Cardinal trades are as rare Oakland A’s sellouts.
Arenado in Kaufman stadium would not be pretty.
Are you talking about hitting or defense?
Given his no trade clause and supposed 6 team list that contains 3 east coast teams not likely to trade for him unless the Cardinals eat significant money and accept a middling return, and three west coast teams where two out of three don’t need him and the third can’t afford him, I’d place that number at 0.
That said, if a market for Bregman ever actually materializes maybe whoever misses out will pivot to Arenado. However i don’t think anything happens there until Bregman and Alonso are off the market
Rsox, would you mind telling me what west coast team can’t afford him?
Seattle
The Padres. As they stand right now they cannot take on his contract. Of course that can change if they trade Cease to the Orioles as has been rumored but right now they aren’t adding salary
Rsox, thank you, that was the answer I was looking for. I don’t think they would need him tho with Machado already at third.
Padres make no sense for Arenado anyways.
Red Sox make sense but Devers thinks he’s a 3b so probably won’t work.
Mets and Yankees still make sense. Yankees make the most sense they have all offseason.
He would move to First Base for San Diego, hence the supposed willingness to do so as a means to attract their attention.
Problem is the Yankees supposedly offered Stroman for Arenado and the Cards said no. Now that could mean the Cardinals just do not see a need/fit for Stroman, or more likely an unwillingness to take money back in the deal.
I think the Mets try to keep Alonso first, if his price doesn’t come down to a level they are comfortable with than perhaps the pivot to Arenado, especially if Bregman comes off the market sooner than later
Moving to 1b makes no sense at all. Arenado isn’t a great hitter his value is in his ability to play 3b.
Why would the Cardinals want Stroman? That’s a terrible offer thats the problem.
If the Mets don’t sign one of Bregman or Alonso i believe they will want Arenado. But I believe the Mets will sign 1 of those 2 players.
I believe the offer was more for salary for salary than anything else. I think the Cardinals have overplayed their hand will have Arenado when training camp begins
You don’t seem to understand the situation. The Cardinals do not want to trade Arenado. Arenado wants the Cardinals to trade him. So if anyone is overplaying their hand it’s Arenado.
I agree about Stroman. I was curious, so I looked up his splits.
At home he pitched 16 times totally 84.2 innings. His ERA was 5.31 and he gave up a total of 15 home runs.
On the road he pitched 14 times for a total of 70 innings. His ERA was 3.09 and he gave up a total of 4 home runs.
I am curious as to how total runs were scored on those home runs, with Yankee Stadium by far allowing the most home runs recently.
Stroman will still turn 34 next year and there’s obviously no guarantee he pitches any better at Busch, but I do think it’s fair to say his numbers are likely better, potentially much better, with a different home field.
Also if things didn’t work out, his vesting option only kicks in if he pitches a total of 140 innings. Otherwise his player option for $18.33M goes away. He pitched 154.2 innings in 2024, while playing 30 games (starting 29).
There is still the issue of money. Yankees would have to pay some of Stroman’s contract (and it didn’t sound like that was an option the first time the trade was offered) or the Cardinals would have to add money.
Matz will make $12M/yr if I’m not mistaken. I’d personally be okay if the Cards paid $3M or so of that for a couple seasons.
Sorry so long. TL;DR: Stroman’s numbers are way better away from Yankee stadium.
That is a good point about the home road splits. But I still don’t want Stroman he’s a bit of a headcase and that contract has a poison pill where if he actually pitches well you gotta pay him 18 million in 2026 like you said. And the Cardinals don’t need another starter either.
If Arenado really wants out than he needs to update his list to teams that might actually want him or perhaps restructure his deal which may entice the teams currently on his list to bite.
I think thats part of the problem he only wants to go to certain teams and at least until now they don’t want him. But again once Bregman is signed that could change things he’s clearly the best available 3b at that point.
I still say one of the New York teams will trade for him. Red Sox could make sense too if they talked to Devers and convinced him to move off of 3b.
I don’t see that happening unless they trade one of Casas or Yoshida and it seems like no one is really lining up to get either
Yes the Red Sox need to trade a lefty hitter, most likely an outfielder. Just because it hasn’t happened yet doesn’t mean it can’t happen.
Why would the Padres acquire Arenado? They have Machado, Bogaerts, Cronenworth, and Arraez. There is nowhere for Arenado to play.
Defensively Arraez is a good DH. Arenado floated a willingness to move to 1B, likely to entice the Padres to at least consider acquiring him.
Arenado is not going to volunteer to play 1B. He is already signed and owed $ and has invoked his NTC, yet you feel one of the greatest defensive 3B of All Time is going to volunteer to do so to be moved more easily?? Not sure how that makes sense in any way shape or form.
Defensively Arraez is a good 2B. A 4 DRS over the last 3 seasons is above average. The problem for him the Padres had 3 that were better last season, Kim, Bogaerts, and Cronenworth.
Arenado is worth absolutely nothing at 1B. All his value is on defense at 3B.
… he already said he’s willing to play 1B… he’s most likely a better defensive 3B than most teams currently have so it may only make sense for him to move to 1st for a couple teams.
If he pitches well then I wouldn’t mind paying him. Plus, he’s been so close on innings each yr. Last year he was barely over 140. The two yrs before that he was under with the Cubs. It’d be ideal for him to pitch well and just short of 140 innings.
In this scenario I also having us unload Matz. Matz has basically been worthless since the signing. It’d be $6 and hope Stroman keeps the ball in the ball park which he couldn’t do in NY. And of course we wouldn’t be paying any of Nado’s contract.
Not living in STL anymore I miss out on the great sports radio and an entire town knowing baseball. I’ve also been focused on football, basketball, and the Blues.
I’d guess:
1. Gray
2. Fedde
3. McGreevy
4. Pallante
5. Mikolis
6. Matz
I certainly think Pallante deserves to start again next season. Crazy to think his ERA was just better than Gray’s.
McGreevy was great in his 3 MLB starts and I’m very hopeful for him being a great, long time Cardinal.
Graceffo is a guy I could see coming in mid-season.
Quinn Mathews was unreal last year. He finally met his match in AAA. He seems to adapt very quickly and could be a great #2 starting in 2026.
Tink just needs to be healthy and get a lot more reps, not turning 23 til the end of the season. But he finally strung together some starts at the end of 24 and looked great in AA. He’s another guy that may just need 1 more season.
I’m guessing Libby will be out of the BP. So strange how he can’t pitch the 1st inning. Maybe once Matz and Mikolis are off the books then he could get an opener.
If the padres were interested in arenado to play first they would have been in on Walker or the other 1b’s. At least Walker was a great 1b on defense already.
If the padres decide to spend 20m on a player it will likely be a starting pitcher. Though it’s more likely they would spread that money around on multiple players.
Cronenworth was avg to below avg at 2b last year.
“Arenado floated a willingness to move to 1B, likely to entice the Padres to at least consider acquiring him.”
No, because Arenado would be a terrible player at 1b. One of the weakest bats and a good glove is maybe a $5m player. Not one making $20m+.
I was yesterday years old when I found out KMOX is on the Audacy app.
Crone started 30 games at 2B last season. Over the last 3 seasons he has a 3 DRS which is still about average.
I had not looked at him compared to Arraez over the last 3 seasons before. Arraez has actually been slightly better at 2B than Cronenworth.
The piece overstates how much of a short-term upgrade Arenado would provide for any team.
How does it do that?
By describing him as “a meaningful third base upgrade.”
That’s such BS that it’s exactly why the Cardinals want him gone and why they’re having such a hard time accomplishing it.
The Cardinals don’t want him gone he wants to be traded because he wants to win. And I am pretty sure he’s a meaningful upgrade at 3b for numerous teams.
At this point he’s probably not much of an upgrade over Alec Bohm, hence why the Phillies haven’t jumped in. Unfortunately Arenado is not the piece he once was
Bohm is a good player that’s not a knock on Arenado but Bohm is a good player and he’s a lot cheaper. The Phillies never made sense for Arenado.
The teams that make sense as far as need and he might be willing to accept a trade to are the 2 New York teams. And I still think there is a chance he goes to the Dodgers eventhough they don’t need him the way other teams do.
You’re wrong because you can’t let go of your bias as a Cardinals fan.
The fact is that he’s washed up and isn’t getting any younger or better, and the other fact is that the Cardinals want him gone because he’s no longer worth his contract.
That’s both the reason they want him gone and the reason no other team wants the contract.
My bias says keep him around because he helps my team win games. And that’s not what I am suggesting at all.
He was a 3 win player in 2024. Thats not washed up.
They don’t want him gone. He wants to be traded they don’t want to trade him.
You don’t know what you are talking about.
He’s an aging, declining player. I’ve been watching baseball for 56 years. I know one when I see one.
Teams evaluating him aren’t concerned with what he did last year, but whether he will perform at the same level going forward, which is unlikely at his age.
The Cardinals have made it painfully obvious that they want him gone. Otherwise they wouldn’t be trying so hard to trade him.
I know what I’m talking about more than you know what you’re talking about, and you’re the Cardinals fan.
That’s both lame and sad.
Everyone is aging.
They are trying to trade him because he has asked to be traded. The Cardinals are a very player friendly organization.
You are lame and sad.
Based on 2024 stats, Arenado would have been an upgrade for 16 MLB teams at 3B.
Cards are trying to trade Arenado, he has not once asked to be traded.
nytimes.com/athletic/5982613/2024/12/09/cardinals-…
These are facts Joel
BITA: And you’re simply in denial for some reason.
The Cardinals are no more “player friendly,” whatever that even means, than any other organization.
You’ve really drank the coolaid.
@Joel Who are you ti call anyone sad? You are a fan of sports news and looking at stats. It been proven time and time again you don’t even know or understand the most basic principles of baseball.
And as for your notion “He’s playing hero ball”, anything indicative of that claim would start with a higher strikeout rate. He would have taken a big contact or no contact approach, that’s hero ball as far as baseball goes. Arenado’s strikeout rate actually declined a bit, so there is nothing indicative of that claim.
Joel you are sad. You are a half witted wannabe baseball fan. You clearly don’t even understand the sport. At most you picked dandelions for a couple years in RF during Little League.
You trying to talk down to others regularly is laughable to say the least. You have made the name “Joel” something looked down upon around here. Yet you try and insult others, do you not see the irony??
Only 56 years? Heck, I played my first little league game more than 56 years ago. Got a triple. It was mostly downhill from there as a hitter. But I did throw pitches until 25 years ago. I will tell you that while certain decline in athletes is unavoidable, most have the ability to succeed much later than most people think. I ran my second fastest marathon at the age of 46, Fisk and Ryan latest that long. It’s about the willingness to work hard. One of my baseball teammates was an alternate Olympic athlete who joked with me about working harder than I did. He was right, but I was no slouch in that department. If a baseball player is willing to work, the body will respond. These guys have an amazing talent. But some waste it.
Impressive, but while running a marathon is quite a feat, it pales in comparison to hitting a baseball traveling and spinning 90+ MPH with a round bat.
I totally agree, it’s a completely different skill set, one that I never possessed. At about 85, I was totally cooked, I wouldn’t even want to stand at home plate to experience 95. Yikes!
My point is that fitness does enter into longevity. Also, there’s an intelligence aspect to athletic success and that’s something a little easier to hold onto as we age. Compensating for changes and adjusting to the competition are key to success throughout an athlete’s career. I’m always impressed with success after 40, it’s a young man’s game for sure.
Cards definitely want him gone. They want to save his money. Same reason the gray rumors were out there before he said he was r waiving his no trade.
Who has better year DJ or Arenado? Yanks won in the past with a .180 third basemen, Scott Brosius!
Yes, you need Hawk-Eyes to hit in today’s game, that is why the emphasis is on the Home Run, You have less than 4 tenths of a second to hit a 100 mph pitch, hitters hit on brain recognition working at it’s best!
The Cardinals and 6 others. Because he won’t approve a trade anywhere else.
The teams Arenado would accept A trade to aren’t interesting in Trading for Arenado. Houston would have been a great fit. He will be a Cardinal this season
Arenado fits on a contender if the Cards are willing to eat some of his cotract like the Astros deal. If not he isn’t going to get moved!
This is not related at all to this article but will there be a report on hye seong Kim and the mariners?
I understand the sources right now are extremely shady but I’m just desperate for any major league move at this point
Us signing yoan moncada would be like a blockbuster shockwave in Seattle since everything’s been so quiet
Yeah, kind of surprised there’s not even a post about it. This is a “rumors” site after all and the rumors have been swirling today but nothing since “The Opener” post here today which didn’t have any info.
What shady sources are you guys referring to?
Disregard I found them lol
I found the news in r/mariners and people are acting like they won the lottery
We’re in a dark place right now
I can’t believe the Yankees would be more likely to stick with LeMahieu than trade for Arenado. LeMahieu was awful and wasn’t on the postseason roster. How does a team with championship aspirations plan on counting on him at this point?
Who said they have championship aspirations?
They went to the World Series last year. They are the Yankees. The have championship aspirations take my word for it.
Them not signing Soto shows some question marks
But at the same time the offer was basically the same and Soto wanted 5 million more in his bank pocket
But then they went and signed Fried and trade for Bellinger and Williams. They clearly have championship aspirations.
@sad
I hate defending the Yankees for anything but the money they would have paid Soto turned into Max Fried, Devin Williams, Paul Goldschmidt, and Cody Bellinger. Locking up that much money on one player, even if you are the Yankees adds restrictions elsewhere
Open competition between LeMahieu/Cabrera/Peraza and possibly an as yet signed player (Yankees are said to be in on Hyeseong Kim). Yankees don’t need to add Arenado and it’s questionable if he is better than that group at this point in time
Arenado is better than any of those guys i don’t think it’s all that questionable.
The Yankees will add a player who has the ability to play 3b. The only question is who it will be.
I’d stay away from him if o was the Yankees. They don’t need another aging right handed vet.
Makes sense to me, Yanks are paying DJ 15 million, with him and Ozzie Cabrera they can piece it together. I would rather have them sign Bregman a star player, and get as much as you can for Stroman and DJ.
“Even if he walks and the Mets move Mark Vientos to first base, would they rather have Arenado on the downswing of his career or give everyday playing time to Ronny Mauricio?”
I’m not sure why we’re assuming here that Mauricio would be the everyday 3B in this scenario. He’s a SS. He’s played two games at 3B in the minors and just five in the majors. He’s coming off of a serious injury and it’s not like he set the world on fire in short time in the majors (78 OPS+).
It would likely be an open competition between Baty and Mauricio in Spring Training, as unappealing as that may sound. Maybe they’d even swing an in-season trade if neither player performs there. But Mauricio is definitely not the default 3B if Vientos moves to 1B.
Baty is the default 3b right now.
Mauricio would get time at 3B, 2B and corner OF.
Given his full year layoff I doubt Ronny makes the team out of ST – and the NYM would probably prefer it that way although they wouldn’t admit it publicly.
They would like him to play everyday and get as many ABs as possible
If Mauricio doesn’t get off to a slow start in AAA he could be brought up after Memorial day.
Big holdup IS when will NYM sign a 3B or 1B or trade Yandy Diaz?
Brandon Belt wants to still play maybe.
When they finally do I think they will be happy to have a platoon of 2 young players at the other corner.
Acuna will be giving his shot at 2nd before Mauricio. He tore up the Dominican league this fall and looks like getting promoted lit a spark in him. There probably won’t be much opportunity for Mauricio on this team as constructed. I feel he would be the first to get traded after showing he’s healthy to start the minors. Williams isn’t far off either and Mauricio has always had the lowest value of them all because of his swing and miss rates.
I think the Cardinals could use Mauricio. Arenado for Mauricio and the Cardinals pay 10 million or so in salary that seems fair.
Big market teams don’t like “unproven” players. They would have a “proven” veteran with questions. Its a miracle that Vientos got an opportunity.
Mets play “unproven” players all the time. Mets regulars Nimmo, Alonso, McNeil, Alvarez, and Vientos all started out as unproven. It’s not a miracle Vientos got an opportunity. He got the job when another unproven player, Brett Baty, flamed out at 3B early on after getting an opportunity.
Every big market team goes with young unproven players every year.
My view is that Cards’s owner Bill De Witte, Jr. either does not have or is not willing to spend his own money on Cardinals’ payroll He lacks a fortune such as Steve Cohen’s or Steve Ballmer’s, though a wealthy man by any standard. That explains the wish to dump Arenado’s salary. As for Arenado, I think the issue with Houston arose when they traded Kyle Turcker. I thhink that Arenado didn’t and doesn’t think that marked Houston as serious about pursuing a pennant.
Sort of an insulting headline, as in “There still might be SOMEONE out there who can use this guy…?”
Is it wrong?
No. I mean, maybe he’s a DH somewhere? He can still hit well enough. But that contract….
I think cardinals could make a bold move and trade arenado to red Sox for Mayer if they pay all of arenados salary. red Sox get 3rd basemen to move devers, even if declining, he’s probably league average for a couple seasons, for free. cardinals can move mayer to 3rd so they have wynn and mayer together and left side of infield is set. it may take another player to sox, but it should be pretty close.
As a Cardinals fan I would like that deal a lot. And I think thats about right as far as value goes.
Sox will never do that.
Thanks for NOT mentioning the Dodgers. That speculation is so ridiculous…
The reason there has been talk about Arenado to the Dodgers is because that is 100% for sure where Arenado wants to play. He’s from the area and wants to play for a winner. And I have been told her has posted things on Instagram implying he wants to be traded there. That’s where the speculation comes from. He’s not a great fit but thats why.
instagram.com/nolan28arenado/
Just follow him.
Call me old fashioned but I don’t “follow” anyone.
Then you can guess at and be wrong about his social media posts Joel.
He’s posted about wanting to go to the Dodgers. I am not wrong about that.
You don’t follow him, so how would you know if he had?
Others said he had. Multiple people.
Seattle is in on Sasaki.
Royals payroll is cleaner after this year. I could see them jump in if the Cards would take Hunter Renfroe’s $7.5M contract and pay down some on top of it. I just don’t think Arenado is worth the acquisition cost even under those circumstances- he’s clearly in decline.
NYY
TBR
TOR
CHW
DET
KCR
MIN
SEA
OAK
MIA
NYM*
WSN
MIL
STL
LAD*
*Approval list
Any that he will accept a trade to.
Can the Reds have him?
/s
Not a chance that he accepts a trade to the M’s and not a chance that they’d pay him anyway even if the Cards paid him down….
The Mets might be able to use Arenado at 3/36m, depending on how they feel about Mauricio’s defense at 3B, about Baty’s chances of being no worse in 2025 than he was in 2024, and about whether Vientos at 1B won’t be any worse than Alonso’s defense will be after he declines by another post-prime year.
If Stearns isn’t confident in Mauricio’s arm, doesn’t think Baty can even repeat his weak 2024 (despite fangraphs projecting Baty for 1.8 fWAR in 2025–a performance requiring no increase except in playing time) and reasonably believes Vientos can’t possibly be worse than Alonso at 1b, then Arenado for a bag of balls—if the Cardinals pick up half his salary—is reasonable. If the Cards want to pick up significantly less than that, the Mets might as well have signed one of the 20m AAV FA (NOT Alonso) and gotten the better chance of at least two playable seasons out of a three year deal.
Mets should sign Alonso. At their level of spending, pay the guy. He is fan favorite, loves playing there. Get him at 1B and picture clears up plenty. They can peddle others afterward but that bat and persona not available elsewhere.
I don’t completely understand why Alonso doesn’t stay with the Mets. Put him in front of Soto and he hits 65 home runs. Ok, I exaggerate, but you get the drift. Boras sold him a bill of goods. Works great for some and stinks it up for others.
@whyhayzee Because the Mets don’t want him, but it’s prudent not to say that in public to a player popular with young fans and tweens who don’t understand how value is created on the diamond.
Alonso’s in steep decline, was worth a lineup slot but only just in 2024, and may well not have even one more season where he puts up a 2 WAR or better year.
The Mets already have a more valuable 1Bman than Pete in Mark Vientos, whose defense and bat both rate to be better than Pete’s in 2025. What the Mets really need is a DH, a top of the rotation arm, and a closer, living with the likelihood that Diaz, while useful, is never going to fully come back from the injury that cost him 2023 . They can fake 3B internally and probably rack up 2 wins that way for under $2m, obviating Pete.
Put the money into a postseason arm (a trade for Montgomery’s a small gamble but it would be mostly money, and for only one year, and it beats 5/110m to Flaherty), a closer and a DH. Forget Pete. When Eppler was advising Cohen the Mets made the nonsenical 7/$158m offer that Alonso was too greedy and too ignorant to take. Instead of doing the homework and discovering teams know all too well the usual fate of R-R 30-year old 1Bmen in steep decline, Pete hired the ultimate greedhead’s agent, Scott Boras.
Too bad for Pete, but a valuable lesson in the high, high price of that greed and ignorance.
@westcasey So… because the Mets have money, they should waste it on Alonso.
What a sensational approach to team building!
I think Arenado thought he would be a hotter commodity than he actually is and overplayed his hand a bit. Probably regrets turning down the deal to the Astros which makes you scratch your head. A contender who has been one of the elite teams this last decade AND no state income tax!!! Silly move.
The Tigers definitely need to hire the Superfife!
……to Detroit for Torkelson and Mize…….
If they trade him, they aren’t going to have many fans at the game. Ownership is already mad that the fans showed their displeasure towards the team by not showing up and now they are telling the fans they are going to tank the season unless you back the team. Getting rid of your best player does not help the situation. The offense could be better this year so they should be pro active in looking for pitching but like I said before, they want to tank the season.