Gabe Lacques, USA TODAYMon, December 1, 2025 at 6:31 PM UTC·6 min readIt is a saga dragging on through a second winter, with little guarantee of resolution before the calendar turns and Major League Baseball teams begin assembling in Arizona and Florida.
Still, the St. Louis Cardinals will try to trade Nolan Arenado. And their third baseman might be a little more agreeable to accept the destination.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementArenado, 34 and with two seasons and $27 million remaining on his contract, is no longer a fit for the pivoting Cardinals, who have already dealt ace Sonny Gray to the Boston Red Sox. Yet new baseball operations chief Chaim Bloom still has a key task on his to-do list that predecessor John Mozeliak could not cross off: Find a taker for Arenado, and a destination the 10-time Gold Glover finds agreeable.
Recent returns won’t help that cause: Arenado’s home run total has diminished sharply the past three seasons, from 30 in 2022 to 26, 16 and 12. That’s coincided with a drop in hard-hit balls (39% in 2022, 33% last season) and a rise in groundball rate (30.5%, 36.5%).
Consequently, Arenado was worth 1.3 WAR in 103 games last season, a sharp fall from his career-best 7.9 in 2022. That’s the version of Arenado the Cardinals must shop. Yet more than a few clubs can use a steady glove and veteran presence at third base, even if Arenado is not the spectacular defender and dynamic all-around talent he once was.
A look at five potential trade partners for Arenado, who has a full no-trade clause:
Since 2000, future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols' 101.3 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) leads all players, with Alex Rodriguez tied for second ways back at 89.7 WAR. See the rest of the top 25.
2. Alex Rodriguez - 89.7
3. Adrian Beltre - 89.7
4. Mike Trout - 87.5
5. Justin Verlander - 82.2
6. Clayton Kershaw - 78.1
7. Mookie Betts - 75.2
8. Max Scherzer - 74.7
9. Zack Greinke - 72.4
10. Robinson Cano - 68.7
11. Miguel Cabrera - 67.2
12. Carlos Beltran - 65.1
13. Chase Utley - 64.6
14. Freddie Freeman - 64.2
15. Paul Goldschmidt - 63.8
16. Joey Votto - 63.6
17. Roy Halladay - 62.4
18. Aaron Judge - 62.3
19. CC Sabathia - 61.8
20. Manny Machado - 61.7
21. Ichiro Suzuki - 60
22. Mark Buehrle - 60
23. Barry Bonds - 59.1
24. Evan Longoria - 58.9
25. Chipper Jones - 58.31 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
Since 2000, future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols' 101.3 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) leads all players, with Alex Rodriguez tied for second ways back at 89.7 WAR. See the rest of the top 25.1 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
Since 2000, future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols' 101.3 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) leads all players, with Alex Rodriguez tied for second ways back at 89.7 WAR. See the rest of the top 25.2 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
2. Alex Rodriguez - 89.73 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
3. Adrian Beltre - 89.74 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
4. Mike Trout - 87.55 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
5. Justin Verlander - 82.26 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
6. Clayton Kershaw - 78.17 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
7. Mookie Betts - 75.28 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
8. Max Scherzer - 74.79 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
9. Zack Greinke - 72.410 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
10. Robinson Cano - 68.711 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
11. Miguel Cabrera - 67.212 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
12. Carlos Beltran - 65.113 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
13. Chase Utley - 64.614 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
14. Freddie Freeman - 64.215 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
15. Paul Goldschmidt - 63.816 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
16. Joey Votto - 63.617 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
17. Roy Halladay - 62.418 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
18. Aaron Judge - 62.319 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
19. CC Sabathia - 61.820 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
20. Manny Machado - 61.721 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
21. Ichiro Suzuki - 6022 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
22. Mark Buehrle - 6023 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
23. Barry Bonds - 59.124 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
24. Evan Longoria - 58.925 / 25Top 25 MLB players from 2000-2025 ranked by Wins Above Replacement
25. Chipper Jones - 58.3Arizona Diamondbacks
There is an immediate opening at the hot corner in the desert. And the Diamondbacks’ motivation to explore an Arenado deal would likely be informed by two factors: Their confidence, or lack thereof, in prospect Jordan Lawlar and their desire to move on from Ketel Marte.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFor now, Lawlar is lightly sketched in at third, though injuries limited him to 114 games in the minors and majors the past two seasons, and he’s struggled in limited stints with the big club in 2023 and ’25.
Marte is a three-time All-Star, but the relationship with club and player was strained when he extended his All-Star break a couple of days after his home was burglarized. Marte’s reasonable contract could attract suitors.
Moving him and acquiring Arenado could bump Lawlar, and perhaps a platoon partner, to second base. Arenado’s contract wouldn’t be too onerous for Arizona to take on, and it’d be a savings if they move Marte’s relatively team-friendly deal, which has $91 million remaining.
Arenado’s curious defensive metrics – his Outs Above Average the past four seasons: 14, 5, 10, 3 – would be mitigated paired with cornerstone shortstop Geraldo Perdomo. Not a bad fit.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSeattle Mariners
Hey, at least these clubs have a fairly recent track record making big deals.
The Diamondbacks nearly pushed the Mariners across the finish line to their first World Series appearance, shipping them first baseman Josh Naylor and third baseman Eugenio Suarez at the trade deadline, both players spearheading a run to Game 7 of the ALCS.
The Mariners were so smitten with Naylor that they re-signed him to a four-year, $92.5 million deal. They still need to replace Suarez.
Hmm.
What makes Arenado a nice fit in Seattle is the notion of him serving as a bridge to the passel of elite infield prospects in the Mariners system. Seattle is in win-now mode, for certain, yet also has top prospects Cole Young – who debuted last season – and Colt Emerson banging on the door. Feinin Celesten lurks a little deeper in the system.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWith Naylor back in the fold and All-Stars Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez bearing much of the offensive load, Arenado could slide a little deeper in the lineup – he’d look nice in the five hole behind Naylor – and simply play elite defense at third.
Miami Marlins
Let’s start with potentially the biggest hurdle: Would Arenado accept a trade to the perpetually-in-flux Marlins?
Heck, he turned down a ready-made opportunity in Houston last winter, so agreeing to a deal in any of baseball’s purgatories – and Pittsburgh would be a nice fit, too – seems unlikely.
But let’s suspend that reality for just a moment and focus on the Marlins’ 49-38 finish – a sample that stretches to June and suggests this wasn’t an end-of-season anomaly. Throw in the fact the Marlins are reportedly looking to add payroll, perhaps motivated by baseball’s revenue-sharing regulations.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAnd consider that the biggest thing this team lacks is a veteran presence in a projected lineup where everyone’s younger than 30 and four are 24 or 25.
The Cardinals want to unload some cash. The Marlins want to spend some. And Arenado wouldn’t even have to switch spring-training environments – simply walking to the other side of the clubs’ shared facility in Jupiter, Florida.
Arizona Diamondbacks left fielder Luis Gonzalez is congratulated by his teammates after he hit an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning to win Game 7 of the 2001 World Series for the Diamondbacks, becoming the fastest expansion club to take the title by doing so in only their fourth season of existence.
2014 World Series: San Francisco Giants beat Kansas City Royals after a stellar pitching performance from Madison Bumgarner.
2016 World Series: The Chicago Cubs win their first World Series in 108 years. Ben Zobrist sealed the game 7 victory for Chicago with a game-winning hit in the 10th inning. Zobrist celebrates with the 2016 World Series Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award.
Howie Kendrick #47 of the Washington Nationals holds the Commissioner's Trophy during a parade to celebrate the Washington Nationals World Series victory over the Houston Astros on Nov. 2, 2019, in Washington, D.C. This is the first World Series win for the Nationals in 95 years.1 / 4The most iconic Game 7s in MLB history. See if your team made the list.
Arizona Diamondbacks left fielder Luis Gonzalez is congratulated by his teammates after he hit an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning to win Game 7 of the 2001 World Series for the Diamondbacks, becoming the fastest expansion club to take the title by doing so in only their fourth season of existence.
1 / 4The most iconic Game 7s in MLB history. See if your team made the list.
Arizona Diamondbacks left fielder Luis Gonzalez is congratulated by his teammates after he hit an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning to win Game 7 of the 2001 World Series for the Diamondbacks, becoming the fastest expansion club to take the title by doing so in only their fourth season of existence.
2 / 4The most iconic Game 7s in MLB history. See if your team made the list.
2014 World Series: San Francisco Giants beat Kansas City Royals after a stellar pitching performance from Madison Bumgarner.
3 / 4The most iconic Game 7s in MLB history. See if your team made the list.
2016 World Series: The Chicago Cubs win their first World Series in 108 years. Ben Zobrist sealed the game 7 victory for Chicago with a game-winning hit in the 10th inning. Zobrist celebrates with the 2016 World Series Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award.
4 / 4The most iconic Game 7s in MLB history. See if your team made the list.
Howie Kendrick #47 of the Washington Nationals holds the Commissioner's Trophy during a parade to celebrate the Washington Nationals World Series victory over the Houston Astros on Nov. 2, 2019, in Washington, D.C. This is the first World Series win for the Nationals in 95 years.Los Angeles Angels
If ever a team would finally cut ties with its veteran albatross at third base, only to enter into an agreement with another highly-paid veteran, well, it’d probably be the Angels.
Reportedly closing in on a retirement settlement with Anthony Rendon – thus ending the $245 million saga with their oft-injured, lineup-averse player – it seems the last thing the Angels would want to do is take on more money for a talent who has seen better days.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementYet owner Arte Moreno seems to enjoy creating the impression that the Angels are this-close to contending, and GM Perry Minasian has dutifully indulged him, drafting a string of close-to-the-majors talents and spackling with short-term free agents to get Anaheim right up around, oh, 72 wins each year.
In this sense, Arenado is a perfect fit, and the price tag not too exorbitant for a club that still somehow draws pretty well.
Additionally, the dude grew up in Orange County – he and Matt Chapman put El Toro High School on the map long before Paul Skenes played there – and might realize there aren’t too many superior options in terms of location and, well, playing on an at least serviceable team.
Athletics
Hey, since we’re testing the limits of sanity, why not go all-in?
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementYeah, it’d be remarkably counterintuitive for a veteran player to accept a deal shipping him to a minor-league park for the final two years of his contract. But let’s focus on the down time and imagine Arenado taking a shine to Yolo County.
Arenado would be an hour’s flight home on off days. Additionally, the man has an interest in a Napa Valley vineyard and would be an hour’s drive should he want to keep an eye on the vines or unwind with a nice bottle of his red.
Would such convenience – and batting in a lineup anchored by burgeoning superstars Jacob Wilson and Nick Kurtz – make up for the creature discomforts of Sutter Health Park? Perhaps a trade reassignment bonus would sweeten the pot – and the A’s, too, are trying to keep the revenue-sharing gendarmes off their back.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nolan Arenado landing spots: Five options if Cardinals trade All-Star
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