Cardinals Explore Trade Market for Nolan Arenado

The St. Louis Cardinals are actively exploring the trade market for their star third baseman, Nolan Arenado. According to Katie Woo of The Athletic, multiple teams have expressed interest, although no substantive progress has been made yet. There is a growing sense throughout the industry that the 33-year-old will eventually be dealt, with discussions expected to intensify as the Winter Meetings approach.

Arenado's Flexibility
Arenado is reportedly open to playing more at first base to create roster flexibility for a potential new team. However, it is believed that he would only waive his full no-trade clause to join a club set up to contend for multiple seasons.

Performance and Value
Although Arenado is coming off a down season with the bat, hitting 16 homers with a 101 OPS+, he still managed to contribute 3.1 WAR (according to FanGraphs) due to his outstanding defense at third base. This blend of solid defense and offensive potential makes him a valuable asset.

Comparison to Free Agents
​Arenado presents an attractive alternative to the top third-base options on the free-agent market, such as Alex Bregman and Willy Adames. Both Bregman and Adames are expected to command nine-figure deals and come with Draft compensation after declining a qualifying offer. Arenado, on the other hand, has three years and $74 million left on his contract, with $10 million of that paid by the Rockies.