When the St. Louis Cardinals acquired Nolan Arenado ahead of the 2021 season, the ultimate goal was clear. The team wanted to win a World Series. The desire to win is why, after the 2022 season, Arenado opted into the remainder of an eight-year extension he had signed with the Colorado Rockies prior to the trade instead of testing free agency.

Unfortunately, things haven’t gone as planned for the Cardinals during Arenado’s time in St. Louis. The team has two postseason appearances and he has played in a total of three postseason games with the Cardinals. They missed the postseason in both 2023 and 2024, and John Mozeliak made it abundantly clear that the organization is shifting gears as a result. Instead of trying (and failing) to win, the Cardinals are going to focus on development and enter a retool of sorts.

Given Arenado’s age and contract, the Cardinals are hoping to trade the star third baseman this offseason in order to give more playing time to younger players. Based on the latest from Katie Woo of The Athletic (subscription required) Mozeliak isn’t the only one hoping Arenado ends up elsewhere.

“Now, as the Cardinals shift directions and contemplate trading Arenado, the 10-time Gold Glove-winning third baseman is willing to play first base, or at least less at third, to create roster flexibility for a potential new team, league sources briefed on his situation say,” Woo wrote.

Arenado is so eager to get out of St. Louis and on a team trying to win to the point where he’s willing to make the move across the diamond from third base to first base according to Woo.