MLB Insider Floats NL Rival As Potential Trade Partner for Cardinals' Nolan Arenado

If the St. Louis Cardinals still plan to trade third baseman Nolan Arenado this offseason, they now need to pivot.

The s Alex Speier reported Wednesday that the Cardinals were back at the bargaining table with the Boston Red Sox for a potential Arenado trade. However, several hours after that report, the Red Sox agreed to sign star infielder Alex Bregman to a three-year deal worth $120 million—thus likely putting an end to any Arenado-to-Boston rumors.

So, what's next? ESPN's Buster Olney suggested Thursday night that the NL Central rival Chicago Cubs are a "theoretical fit" for Arenado.

Of course, trading Arenado to a division rival—the Cubs, nonetheless—might be a difficult move for St. Louis to swallow.

Third base remains a position of need for the Cubs as spring training begins. As of Thursday night, Matt Shaw—the Cubs' first-round pick in 2023—is the front-runner to earn the starting third base role in camp. Although Shaw has raked in the minors—29 homers and a .906 OPS in 159 career games—he has no big league experience and has seen just 131 at-bats at Triple-A.

Shaw looks like he can develop into a future star, but trading for Arenado would give the Cubs a proven option at the hot corner in a season they need to bounce back from last year's 83–79 disappointment.

Arenado, an eight-time All-Star, has just been a slightly above-average hitter in the big leagues over the last two seasons. In 296 games in that span, Arenado has logged 42 homers and a .269/.320/.426 slash line, adding up to a 104 OPS+—just four points above league average (100 OPS+).

Arenado, 33, is due $21 million this season and is under contract through 2027. Back in December, he invoked the no-trade clause in his contract and nixed a deal with the Houston Astros.