Nolan Arenado trade to the Angels would realistically look like

[AZ_Cardsfan]

I do not think it is that bad. Yes he is a negative value at this stage of his career and contract. No it isn't the entire $31 mil left on his contract. And the Cards do get $10 mil from COL the next two years.

But none of that matters. He is a negative $15 mil per BTV and owed $31 mil. So STL can send $16 mil and alls square. So if they send $25 that's a $9 mil value. That would return a Nelson Rada or Chase Shores level. 6-7 in the Angels system.

More importantly it opens up 3B.

[Jatalk]

From a business standpoint, that does not make much sense to me. Cards owe $37 million over the next two years. Why would we pay the Angels $25-30 million for a low upside minor leaguer that most likely gets DFA/released in a couple of years. If that's the best you can do - keep him. He's still the best defensive 3rd baseman in the organization. Offensively he is below average at this point in his career but still viable when healthy. If that's the best offer roll the dice on some sort of comeback and try and flip him at the deadline. Request that he split time 3B/1B/DH so that the team has an opportunity to see what the others have. Right now, it has not been any better than what Arenado still brings to the table stat wise offensively and a major minus defensively. Is he a cancer in the clubhouse? I have no idea, but I haven't read or heard that's the case.

I get the push to move him because of declining production but too much money with little to no return just to say "well we got rid of Arenado, finally." JMO

Agree

[FrankTheTank]

I'd eat $25-$30 million if the Angels send us back Jo Adell. Throw in Noot and call it a day.

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/angel ... p_catchall

[AZ_Cardsfan]

I'd eat $25-$30 million if the Angels send us back Jo Adell. Throw in Noot and call it a day.

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/angel ... p_catchall

I like Adell except his control is running out.

[WaltsSuccessor]

The ridiculous link to a Twitter story involving Arenado in a restaurant restroom was humorous. But what if there was an Arenado for Soler deal? It could be intriguing.

Has more merit than the OPs proposal IMO. Bloom already said he’s in the market for right handed power.

Soler is that. He was terrible last year but was very good in 2023 then solid 2024 (better than our incumbent OFs). Owed $16m for one more year. A 1:1 swap seems fair on the money.

[HighHeat23]

What STL Gets
One low‑tier prospect---OF Randy De Jesus (Angels No. 27 prospect)
What STL Pays
$25–30M salary coverage
Why
Only one suitor + Arenado’s no‑trade clause + declining performance

A salary dump disguised as a trade.

Hardly a ‘dump.’

I thought that's what Nolan was doing while talking to his agent.

[hmoss859]

$15 million dump and get a lottery ticket

[redbirdfan51]

I'd eat $25-$30 million if the Angels send us back Jo Adell. Throw in Noot and call it a day.

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/angel ... p_catchall

I like it

[ScotchMIrish]

How about one current prospect and a draft choice?

Can't trade for draft picks but you can get international signing money. Maybe a mediocre prospect and a player to be named later.

[PadsFS07]

More importantly it opens up 3B.

Hooray! Lmao

[JuanAgosto]

The ridiculous link to a Twitter story involving Arenado in a restaurant restroom was humorous. But what if there was an Arenado for Soler deal? It could be intriguing.

Has more merit than the OPs proposal IMO. Bloom already said he’s in the market for right handed power.

Soler is that. He was terrible last year but was very good in 2023 then solid 2024 (better than our incumbent OFs). Owed $16m for one more year. A 1:1 swap seems fair on the money.

Soler could be a bridge to Baez.

[rockondlouie]

What STL Gets
One low‑tier prospect---OF Randy De Jesus (Angels No. 27 prospect)
What STL Pays
$25–30M salary coverage
Why
Only one suitor + Arenado’s no‑trade clause + declining performance

A salary dump disguised as a trade.

Other than lowering the payment to the $15-20M range I agree w/your assumption earp.

I've thought the Angels would be his landing spot for some time, makes perfect sense for both sides.

NADO goes home, Angles can market his homecoming.

But that ring will definitely remain elusive.

[Talkin' Baseball]

What STL Gets
One low‑tier prospect---OF Randy De Jesus (Angels No. 27 prospect)
What STL Pays
$25–30M salary coverage
Why
Only one suitor + Arenado’s no‑trade clause + declining performance

A salary dump disguised as a trade.

Other than lowering the payment to the $15-20M range I agree w/your assumption earp.

I've thought the Angels would be his landing spot for some time, makes perfect sense for both sides.

NADO goes home, Angles can market his homecoming.

But that ring will definitely remain elusive.

It's hard to win a championship- that's why it is so significant.

Some of his misses were circumstantial, some were influence by him.
He forced a trade to St Louis. That didn't work out.
He could have opted out and still had value- could have gone anywhere. He didn't.
Things were lined up for a run in 2022. He didn't perform.

It's a hard thing to do. Everything has to go right.

[rockondlouie]

What STL Gets
One low‑tier prospect---OF Randy De Jesus (Angels No. 27 prospect)
What STL Pays
$25–30M salary coverage
Why
Only one suitor + Arenado’s no‑trade clause + declining performance

A salary dump disguised as a trade.

Other than lowering the payment to the $15-20M range I agree w/your assumption earp.

I've thought the Angels would be his landing spot for some time, makes perfect sense for both sides.

NADO goes home, Angles can market his homecoming.

But that ring will definitely remain elusive.

It's hard to win a championship- that's why it is so significant.

Some of his misses were circumstantial, some were influence by him.
He forced a trade to St Louis. That didn't work out.
He could have opted out and still had value- could have gone anywhere. He didn't.
Things were lined up for a run in 2022. He didn't perform.

It's a hard thing to do. Everything has to go right.

The move to the Cardinals was solid getting out of Denver and coming to a perennial playoff contender.

Definitely overplayed his hand vetoing the astros' deal.

He's rich, lives in SoCal and has his whole life in front of him.............no pity party for NADO who lived a dream.

[LCA1951]

From a business standpoint, that does not make much sense to me. Cards owe $37 million over the next two years. Why would we pay the Angels $25-30 million for a low upside minor leaguer that most likely gets DFA/released in a couple of years. If that's the best you can do - keep him. He's still the best defensive 3rd baseman in the organization. Offensively he is below average at this point in his career but still viable when healthy. If that's the best offer roll the dice on some sort of comeback and try and flip him at the deadline. Request that he split time 3B/1B/DH so that the team has an opportunity to see what the others have. Right now, it has not been any better than what Arenado still brings to the table stat wise offensively and a major minus defensively. Is he a cancer in the clubhouse? I have no idea, but I haven't read or heard that's the case.

I get the push to move him because of declining production but too much money with little to no return just to say "well we got rid of Arenado, finally." JMO

For that return, the Cardinals should simply DFA him. Less money or better prospect but not both. They can do less themselves and by doing that, they would be doing more. The goal is to not have him hanging around like last season's poor decision

[WaltsSuccessor]

The ridiculous link to a Twitter story involving Arenado in a restaurant restroom was humorous. But what if there was an Arenado for Soler deal? It could be intriguing.

Has more merit than the OPs proposal IMO. Bloom already said he’s in the market for right handed power.

Soler is that. He was terrible last year but was very good in 2023 then solid 2024 (better than our incumbent OFs). Owed $16m for one more year. A 1:1 swap seems fair on the money.

Soler could be a bridge to Baez.

He could. And it's a one year flyer so if he's floundering in late June/July, just cut bait with a DFA. In the end, still saved money over Arenado so call it a win. I'd rather take back some money on a player that *might* bounce back than just eat $15-20m to send to another team. If the player doesn't bounce back, move on.

In the end, we are still light on ML caliber players for this roster - especially if Arenado, Donovan, etc. are traded. Soler was very bad in 2025 but there's a track record there to bet on for 1 year.

Don't really like Soler at all. But I like him at 1 year, $16m more than I like Arenado for 2 years, $37m. Plus, the OF needs some RH thump. There's none really available in FA in our price range.

Jo Adell would certainly be a better get, but I don't see the Angels motivation to move him after he finally had a decent season. At least not for Arenado.