St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado informed the Astros Tuesday that he will not waive his no trade clause to Houston, according to a baseball official who spoke with USA TODAY Sports about the potential trade.
The Cardinals and Astros were working on a deal, but Arenado rejected it now with hopes he could be traded to a Southern California team – where he lives – or New York, Boston or Philadelphia. He could eventually accept a trade to Houston if none of his preferences come to fruition this winter and with the uncertainty surrounding free agent Alex Bregman.
Earlier this offseason, the Cardinals informed the eight-time All-Star that they would do everything possible to trade him this winter to a contender, and even granted his agent Joel Wolfe permission to help facilitate a deal.
“He would strongly consider it if it’s the right place to go,’ Wolfe said during the Winter Meetings, “but he’s not going to go just anywhere. We hope something good happens, but he’s not going to approve and move his family and go play somewhere that would be (a lateral move).
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“He’s in a good place with the Cardinals. He’s not going to go just to go.’
Arenado, who turns 34 in April, still has three years remaining in his contract worth $74 million. The Colorado Rockies, his former team, are responsible for $10 million as part of their 2021 trade with the Cardinals. But with the Cardinals plan to ‘reset’ before the 2025 season, Arenado is not likely in their plans.
Arenado, a 10-time Gold Glove winner, hit .271 with 16 homers and 71 RBI last season, his lowest totals since 2014 with a career-low .394 slugging percentage.
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