The St. Louis Cardinals could shake up the winter trade market.
After posting a near-losing record in 2024 and missing the playoffs for the second-straight season, the Cardinals are poised to rebuild around some of their younger players. And that means looking for a trade partner for their most accomplished veteran.
According to Katie Woo of The Athletic, Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak has been exploring the trade market for Nolan Arenado with an eye toward hastening the team’s rebuild.
“According to multiple league sources, both Arenado and Mozeliak were open to the possibility of a potential trade this winter,” per Woo. “Arenado did not demand a trade but was agreeable to the idea when approached by Mozeliak.”
Arenado, who has a full no-trade clause, would likely only approve a move to a contender. And a one-for-one swap that would send him to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for Masataka Yoshida proposed by FanSided’s Thomas Gauvain might qualify.
“In this trade, the Red Sox and Cardinals swap relatively pricey players who both have three years remaining on their deals,” Gauvain added.
“The Red Sox get their right-handed, power-hitting third baseman in Arenado who can rake doubles to the Green Monster all year, and the Cardinals receive a balanced left-handed hitter who can be the team’s primary designated hitter.”
After Yoshida signed a five-year, $90 million deal with the Red Sox in 2022, he would be a slight discount from Arenado over the next three years.
Boston might be willing to take on a little more financial responsibility, though, as Arenado could offer some helpful infield flexibility.
“A trade of Nolan Arenado and Masataka Yoshida one-for-one makes sense for both the Cardinals and the Red Sox,” per Gauvain.
“Boston receives a power-hitting right-handed batter who plays a much better third base than incumbent Rafael Devers, and they are able to remove a log jam of outfielders.
The Cardinals save some money by trading Arenado, and they allow their young hitters to get plenty of playing time in both the infield and the outfield.”
If the two sides see this potential swap as that kind of win-win, the Cardinals will certainly have made waves before the 2025 season kicks off.
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