Star third baseman Nolan Arenado seems to want to be a Los Angeles Dodger. However, Teoscar Hernández’s recent re-signing with the Dodgers seems to close the door on that possibility this offseason. Arenado, who hails from Southern California, will have to hope the St. Louis Cardinals can negotiate a trade with a different team from his state if he wants to return home.
Nolan Arenado Not a Trade Fit for Dodgers
The Dodgers were one of six teams on Arenado’s wish list as the Cardinals started shopping him this offseason. His preferred destination is rumored to be the Dodgers. He caused speculation about it with a cryptic Instagram post with the song “Dodger Blue” by Kendrick Lamar. The two teams have had trade conversations around Arenado in the past, most publicly at the 2023 trade deadline.
However, The Athletic has reported that the Dodgers have not considered trading for Arenado this offseason. Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes publicly committed to Max Muncy as the team’s third baseman in 2025 at the Winter Meetings. While Arenado’s agent has said he is willing to switch to first base to make a deal possible, the Dodgers have that spot filled too with Freddie Freeman.
Muncy is a much cheaper option at third base than Arenado. The incumbent third baseman stands to earn $24 million over the next two years compared to the $64 million still on Arenado’s contract. Muncy has also been more productive of late.
In 2024, Muncy had an OPS of .852 compared to Arenado’s .719, although he missed a majority of last season due to injury. He played 79 fewer games than Arenado. With that, Muncy still managed a better WAR at 3.0 to Arenado’s 2.5. Even with the discrepancy in games played, Muncy hit just one fewer home run than Arenado in 2024.
Hernández Signing Closes the Door
Hernández’s three-year, $66 million deal with the Dodgers likely puts the organization back ahead of the New York Yankees for top payroll in 2025 for now. While Hernández and Arenado don’t play the same position, the signing likely extinguishes any rumor of Arenado ending up with the Dodgers.
Arenado’s best hope was for the Dodgers to lose a high-impact bat and seek to replace it for a 2025 campaign. Even with LA’s extravagant ways, it’s hard to rationalize trading for an expensive player when there doesn’t seem to be an everyday spot for him defensively or in the lineup, especially with the DH duties going almost exclusively to superstar Shohei Ohtani.
What’s Next in the Arenado Sweepstakes
Cardinals insider John Denton believes Nolan Arenado partially turned down a trade to the Astros because he’s holding on to hope on going to the Dodgers.
“Nolan Arenado wants to be told no by the Dodgers, that’s his first choice.” pic.twitter.com/YdsEiQ4zvi
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) December 19, 2024
Arenado has already used his trade veto rights once this offseason, nixing a trade to the Houston Astros. The other five teams on his wish list are the San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Angels, Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox, and New York Mets.
Teams will have to come up with prospects to tempt the Cardinals into trading Arenado. The organization showed it is willing to take on some of the money on Arenado’s deal in the declined trade to the Astros. The Cardinals were reportedly set to take on $15 million of Arenado’s remaining contract.
Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak told reporters during the Winter Meetings that it still is a possibility that Arenado will return to the club in 2025. The organization is motivated to cut costs this offseason, though Mozeliak said there are other ways of doing that. The situation sets up a game of chicken. The Cardinals may have to fold some of their expected return or Arenado may have to widen his acceptable trade partner list. If neither side blinks, Arenado will likely report to Jupiter for Cardinals spring training.
Photo Credit: © Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
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