The St. Louis Cardinals have made an official decision to keep Nolan Arenado, closing the door on any trade talks for the star third baseman. The trade market for Arenado has effectively frozen, with the team not receiving any serious offers for their veteran slugger.
After rejecting trade proposals from the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels this past winter, Arenado had been the subject of ongoing speculation. But as the 2025 season progresses, it’s become clear that teams are no longer showing interest. The Cardinals confirmed that no offers have been made that would be deemed suitable, with the trade market surrounding Arenado collapsing due to the combination of his substantial contract and the team’s improving performance.
Currently, the Cardinals are on a seven-game winning streak, positioning themselves just two games behind the Chicago Cubs for the NL Central lead. With their momentum building, St. Louis has decided to keep Arenado, who has shown signs of a resurgence at the plate while continuing to perform at an elite level defensively.
“Arenado has looked better than he has in years,” said one Cardinals insider. “The decision to keep him makes perfect sense as we look to make a playoff push.”
Given the current trajectory, trading Arenado now would be a risky move for the Cardinals, who are aiming for the postseason. His leadership, experience, and production could be pivotal in their efforts to contend for a playoff spot.
The timing also aligns with the organizational transition taking place within the Cardinals. John Mozeliak, the current president of baseball operations, is in his final year, with Chaim Bloom set to take over after the season. Though the franchise is looking to retool for the future, moving Arenado in the midst of a potential playoff chase was deemed a non-viable option.
With the trade talks officially shut down, Nolan Arenado will remain the cornerstone of the Cardinals’ infield for the foreseeable future as they look to capitalize on their hot streak and secure a postseason berth.
