Arenado has won 10 Gold Gloves at third base.
Eight-time All-Star Nolan Arenado, who has also won 10 Gold Gloves as a third baseman, is open to a position change as the St. Louis Cardinals consider trading the veteran this offseason, according to league sources cited by Katie Woo of The Athletic.
Arenado is reportedly willing to transition to first base, at least in a part-time capacity, to provide a new team with greater roster and lineup flexibility.
The Cardinals have missed the postseason in the last two years, prompting a shift in their team-building strategy. President of baseball operations John Mozeliak mentioned during an October interview with Fox 2 that the club aims to give “young players a chance to play,” as they currently have the fifth-oldest roster in Major League Baseball.
At 33 years old and facing a contract worth $ 74 million over the next three seasons, Arenado’s timeline with the team appears misaligned, increasing the likelihood of a trade. His no-trade clause adds complexity to the situation, but it is expected he will waive it if a competitive opportunity arises, as he has only participated in eight postseason games and has yet to win a World Series in his illustrious career.
Arenado, a five-time Silver Slugger Award winner who has hit 30 or more home runs in seven seasons, has seen a decline in his offensive production over the past two years, with a .269/.320/.426 slash line across 296 games in 2023 and 2024—figures that are significantly below his career averages.
However, he remains an elite defensive third baseman, ranking second in MLB for Outs Above Average according to Statcast. His openness to switching positions could attract more contenders to engage in trade discussions with the Cardinals.
In his 12-season career, the Newport Beach, CA native boasts a .285/.342/.515 batting line, with 341 home runs, 1,132 RBI, and 1,826 hits in 1,680 games.
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