Recently, the St. Louis Cardinals’ trade for Nolan Arenado finally came to a conclusion when the Colorado Rockies released Austin Gomber. He was the last piece the Rockies had from the Arenado trade, and with him off the roster, all the players dealt are gone.

It was an overwhelmingly positive trade for the Cardinals, as none of the players panned out for the Rockies, and Arenado has been an incredible player for St. Louis.

However, as Katie Woo of The Athletic alludes to in her recent mailbag, the Cardinals might make a win-win decision in the offseason with Arenado after a lot of speculation over the last year.

Nolan Arenado Might Finally be Traded

In the 2024-2025 offseason, the Cardinals and Houston Astros had a trade worked out, which would send Arenado to Houston to replace Alex Bregman. But, with Arenado’s no-trade clause, he shot down the trade and remained in St. Louis this season.

But, ahead of the 2025-2026 offseason, Woo’s comments point to a different outcome amid Arenado trade speculation. Instead of invoking his no-trade clause, Arenado might finally OK a trade.

“St. Louis will again attempt to trade their third baseman (easier said than done).” Woo writes. “… I think a trade happens for the betterment of the player and the team.”

Instead of languishing on the Cardinals, who Woo reports could be heading into a rebuild under Chaim Bloom, Arenado might be better off on a new team.

St. Louis, even with Arenado’s struggles at the plate this season, will surely find a team interested in acquiring the future Hall of Famer. Aside from the poor offensive play, Arenaod is a huge commitment for a team to trade for.

Arenado is signed through the 2027 season for $16 million in 2026 and $15 million in 2027. He’s 34 years old now and will be 36 by the time his contract is up. That’s not a minor financial commitment for a team to make, which could hurt his market.

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But, he’s still an elite defensive third baseman, and while he’s been a below-average hitter this season, he’s been above average in the other four years he’s spent in St. Louis.

Aside from his rookie year in 2013, the only other time Arenado has been a below-average hitter was during the 2020 Covid-shortened season.

Bloom, as the new president of baseball operations, is expected to make a lot of changes in the offseason. While the financials and the interested teams might prove to be a hurdle, Woo predicts that Arenado will be dealt in the offseason.

If he is moved, it would be to a team he’s okay with due to his no-trade clause. The team trading for him would also be interested in Arenado, while the Cardinals could get out of his contract and net some prospect capital in return.

A trade of Arenado could be a win-win-win for everyone involved. From the Cardinals to Arenado and his new team, everyone could come out better for making this trade. Woo predicts such a deal will happen, for the betterment of everyone involved.

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