The Chicago Cubs could soon find themselves no longer contending against one of the most legendary players from their fiercest rival’s history.
After weeks of uncertainty this offseason, the St. Louis Cardinals appear to be moving closer to trading star third baseman Nolan Arenado to the Houston Astros.
A report on Saturday from several MLB.com insiders indicated that talks have resumed regarding the eight-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner, following preliminary agreement on a trade earlier this offseason. In those earlier discussions, Arenado exercised his no-trade clause to block the deal to Houston, mainly due to the ramifications of Kyle Tucker’s trade to the Cubs.
Now 33 years old, Arenado has only played in the postseason five times throughout his 12-year career and has never advanced beyond the NLDS. At this stage in his career, he wishes to play for a contender, but the Astros seemed to be entering a rebuilding phase. However, as the offseason progressed, the Astros appear to still be in contention, making Arenado potentially more open to waiving his no-trade clause in hopes of finishing his career in Houston.
The Astros were on Arenado’s initial list of teams he would leave the Cardinals for, but their situation changed momentarily during the offseason. There was speculation the Cubs might pursue Arenado due to their need for a third baseman, but such a move would be complicated given the historic rivalry and St. Louis’s reluctance to strengthen their opponents.
With the Cubs signing Justin Turner to a substantial one-year contract that includes a team option for 2026, the likelihood of a trade with the Cardinals appeared low. Turner’s more affordable contract and the emergence of Matt Shaw as a future third baseman for Chicago diminish the rationale for acquiring Arenado.
For the Cubs, the next best scenario would be for the star player to be traded far from the National League Central, reducing the chances of facing him frequently. The Cardinals, seemingly on the brink of difficult years ahead, parting with one of their best and priciest players would further signal that the division is now open for competition.
