The Kansas City Royals finished just above .500 in 2025 with an 82-80 record and missed the playoffs after reaching the playoffs in 2024 for the first time since they won the World Series in 2015.

The Royals now have one of the top five players in all of baseball at one of the most important positions and cannot waste his career by not competing for championships.

The St. Louis Cardinals traded away starting pitcher Sonny Gray to the Boston Red Sox on November 25th in exchange for prospects Brandon Clarke and Richard Fitts. Trading away a premier starting pitcher who is still in his prime is a sign that a rebuild is imminent. The Cardinals have a lot of work to do, and a lot of it starts with rebuilding their farm system.

The Cardinals were dominant in the early 2000s and 2010s, and a primary reason for that was that they drafted and developed players in the minor leagues very well. It hasn’t been like that in a while now.

The Cardinals are not willing to spend big and need to build a better farm system, and that’s why the St. Louis Cardinals will trade Nolan Arenado to the Kansas City Royals.

*THIS IS A PREDICTION, NOT A REPORT*

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Nolan Arenado Traded To Royals

The Kansas City Royals have a stellar young third baseman already on the roster. Maikel Garcia was named an All-Star, won a Gold Glove, and even received MVP votes in 2025 in just his fourth season in the big leagues.

With Garcia’s breakout and his placement next to Bobby Witt Jr. on that side of the field, the Royals have created possibly the best left side of the field in all of baseball.

So where would Nolan Arenado play? Arenado has stated he is willing to move to first base if needed. Vinnie Pasquantino, the current first baseman for the Royals, had a breakout year as well, but is also a designated hitter.

Arenado would need to slot in at first base and possibly share some time as a designated hitter as well.

This would give the Royals possibly the best defensive infield in all of baseball and another clutch batter in Arenado. Arenado may be entering his 14th season, but he is still one of the best defenders and a quality bat. He lives under pressure and always seems to get a hit when it matters.

Potential Nolan Arenado Return Package

Arenado is near the end of his career and would not completely kill the Royals’ farm system, but the Cardinals would look to gather at least one of their top 10 prospects.

Arenado has two years left on his contract, and a lot of that will be paid by the Rockies and Cardinals. He is currently set to earn deferred money from the Cardinals until 2041. 

The Royals have three catchers ranked in their top 10 prospects according to MLB.com. They are more likely to trade away the lowest-ranked one of the three, and that would be Ramon Ramirez.

A package of Ramirez and number seven prospect Ben Kudna, a right-handed pitcher, would likely get the deal done and possibly take on any of the deferred money.

The St. Louis Cardinals need to get younger and need to stockpile prospects. The best way to do that is to trade away aging veterans with value, and that means trading away fan favorites.

The Royals must take advantage of Bobby Witt Jr.’s team-friendly deal, and that is why the Kansas City Royals will trade for Nolan Arenado.