Cardinals GM Provides Massive Update on Nolan Arenado Trade; Where Do Dodgers, Yankees Stand?
The possibility of the Los Angeles Dodgers adding All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado always seemed outlandish, not because the team wouldn’t successfully trade for him, but rather, the defending champions didn’t need him. As the offseason unfolded, Arenado’s more realistic suitors have pivoted and signed other players, leaving the St. Louis Cardinals urgently searching for a trade partner.
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Earlier this week, MLB insider Jeff Passan reported the Boston Red Sox as the most reasonable landing spot for Arenado.
“With the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers seen as long shots to make a move for Arenado, an eight-time All-Star third baseman, the Red Sox remain the landing spot that makes the most sense,” Passan wrote. “Though Arenado used his no-trade clause to block a deal to Houston this winter, he would waive it to end up in Boston, according to sources.”
However, after the team signed Alex Bregman, they’re out on the 10-time Gold Glove winner, which leaves the Bombers and Dodgers.
Cardinals insider John Denton also added the situation with Arenado’s salary that has shifted in St. Louis.
“A sticking point in any Arenado deal could come down to how much of the $64 million remaining on Arenado’s contract the Cardinals are willing to absorb,” Denton wrote. “Initial trade talks in early January broke down when the Cardinals refused to pay as much as $20 million toward the balance of Arenado’s contract, a source said. After failing to make much trade progress elsewhere throughout January, the Cardinals reengaged the Red Sox, Yankees and Dodgers about possible restructured deals for the star third baseman.”
It’s publicly known Arenado wants to out of St. Louis, but at this point, the Cardinals have been unable to find a trading partner since Arenado blocked a trade to the Houston Astros earlier in the offseason.
As for the Dodgers, general manager Brandon Gomes said the team would still consider other opportunities before the start of the 2025 season, signaling the team hasn’t closed the door on making another addition.
“On the other front, you never say never and we’ll continue to be opportunistic at looking at places at how to round out the roster,” Gomes said. But we feel very happy with what we’ve done to this point.”
The Dodgers haven’t openly conveyed their interest in Arenado, but the same could be said about other free agent signees such as Kirby Yates, Hyeseong Kim, and Michael Conforto.
If the Dodgers don’t actually have interest in Arenado, then the third baseman will likely be staying in St. Louis. And that certainly looks to be the case as president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said Arenado “is likely going to be a part our club at this point” heading into the new season.
If the Dodgers want Arenado before Opening Day — or at any point — it’s safe to assume they’d be able to get him. For now, though, that does not appear to be the case.
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Photo Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
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If the Cardinals wouldn’t pay down his salary for the Dodgers by 20 million in January, then I doubt they will do it now. The Dodgers don’t need him. If he was hitting the way he used to, then maybe, but Max Muncy will hit more homeruns than NA so the Dodgers are not taking on $21.3 million in yearly salary when they have a serviceable option at 9-12 million. So please everyone… GIVE IT UP! Its a pipe dream.
“If he was hitting the way he used to, then maybe, but Max Muncy will hit more homeruns…”
That is wrong on several levels. NA is a lifetime .285 hitter, and he did “decline” last year – hitting .272, the exact same number as fan favorite Teo H., and shaming Max’s .228. As far as homers, Max hits slightly more per game, at a rate of 21% compared to NAs 20%, but Arenado is on the field during the season 50% more than max (150 games vs. 100), so his season rate is 28 compared to Max’s 22.
And did I mention that Arenado has by far the highest defensive WAR of any active player – 20, compared to the next highest at 14. Max doesn’t crack the top 100.
So, NO. Arenado is better than Muncy by almost every measure.
Agreed. Is there enough in the piggy bank to sign NA? What to do with the beloved Max?
MLB ranks Arenado the 7th best 3rd baseman in baseball, Muncy the 8th. So sure, break up that world series team and commit to a rapidly declining guy [look at his last 3 OPS, the guy is dropping to replacement level fast], at an additional $50M a year [with tax]. Complete insanity, and despite this being like the 11th article about Arenado on this Dodger site, the Dodgers have already scoffed at the idea multiple times publicly for those paying attention, they said straight out, if they wanted him they would already have him..
They don’t him your absolutely right, and they won’t pay 20 mil for his salary. However there suitor than the Dodgers. First off he’s wanted to be a Dodger ever since he entered the league. 2nd he’s still an Allstar 3b fielding. 3rd If there’s any team that could improve his batting it’s the Dodgers. 4th with our lineup there is no pressure for him to perform offensively and his offense including OPS and BA will go up automatically vs St Louis where he is counted on more highly in those categories. 5th Muncy would still be starting at 2b. 6th Muncy might have more bombs but Arenado gets on base more and hits more for average, and those low numbers in hitting are automatically inflated on a team with no pressure.
I agree with Mr. Dodger. The exception might be if the Dodgers trade Muncy. Trading Muncy would open the door for Arenado and perhaps secure a center fielder for the Dodgers. I would much rather have Edmonds playing shortstop than center field. Then, obviously, Mookie could move to second base. This speculation is fun.
Seriously. The Dodgers need an outfielder more. They then can move Edmond to 2nd base.
The Dodgers do have some positional fit issues. I also saw a (not sure if true or not) “insider” saw that Max Muncy and Tyler Glashow have a beef with each other. Maybe nothing but who knows. Max Muncy in his earlier Dodger days before his injury was rumored to be more “quietly outspoken” about others such as Trevor Bauer (false charges) when Mookie Betts even said Trevor Bauer was a good teammate. So bottom line is no team ever is set up perfect but this Dodger team does not need anything derailing it from continued great success.
As the Kiké Hernandez re-signing shows, the Dodgers are big on clubhouse chemistry….and Muncy is a great clubhouse guy–with some serious power. The team is loaded enough to absorb his low batting average and on-base percentage.