The Arizona Diamondbacks and the St. Louis Cardinals are making significant strides towards a trade that could see star third baseman Nolan Arenado donning a D-backs jersey. According to MLB.com's Steve Gilbert, the negotiations are nearing completion, indicating a strong possibility that this deal will go through soon.
Katie Woo of The Athletic has reported that the talks between the two teams are serious, focusing on moving Arenado from St. Louis to Arizona. This potential trade comes in light of the Cardinals' recent shift towards rebuilding their team under the leadership of new president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom. One of the key objectives for the Cardinals during this offseason has been to find a new home for the 34-year-old Arenado, who will turn 35 in April.
Despite being a proven talent—having earned eight All-Star selections and five Silver Slugger Awards over his career—Arenado's value in a trade has some complications. He still has two years remaining on his contract, amounting to $42 million, with the Colorado Rockies still responsible for $5 million of that total. Additionally, Arenado holds a full no-trade clause, which gives him significant control over any potential move. These factors, combined with his recent decline in performance at the plate, have made the prospect of trading him more challenging.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops!