Astros Now “Serious Suitor” For Nolan Arenado

Whereas the Astros have been intent on making an attempt to re-sign Alex Bregman this offseason, the membership landed a possible third base backup possibility in Isaac Paredes, and is now a fair larger possibility on the scorching nook.  The Athletic’s Chandler Rome reviews that Houston has “emerged as a critical suitor for” Nolan Arenado’s companies, although a commerce isn’t “believed to be imminent.”

Because the Cardinals wish to create extra taking part in time for youthful gamers and scale back payroll, the membership has been open about its makes an attempt to commerce Arenado this offseason.  The third baseman has a full no-trade clause however is open to waiving it in the correct state of affairs, as agent Joel Wolfe careworn that Arenado is simply prepared to go away St. Louis for “a workforce that he thinks goes to win now and persistently for the rest of his profession.  He desires a workforce that has the throttle down….that he believes he can soar proper in they usually’re going to win proper now.”

The Astros would seemingly match that description as longtime playoff regulars who’re making an attempt to maintain their competition window, however it’s unclear if Arenado would have curiosity in going to Houston.  The Dodgers, Padres, Angels, Phillies, Mets, and Purple Sox are the six groups Arenado would reportedly be prepared to play for, nevertheless it isn’t identified if any golf equipment past this group would additionally meet his approval for a waiver of his no-trade privileges.

Past the no-trade clause, the Astros and Cardinals additionally should work out the phrases of the particular deal, and funds might current an impediment.  Rome writes that “the Astros will ask the Cardinals to assist pay down” the $74MM owed to Arenado over the ultimate three years of his contract.  (Solely $64MM is technically the Playing cards’ duty, because the Rockies are overlaying $10MM of that determine as per the time period of the 2021 commerce that introduced Arenado from Colorado to St. Louis.)  Whether or not or not the Cardinals are prepared to cowl any of Arenado’s wage is an open query, and in that case, it’ll be a matter of whether or not they can match figures with the Astros or another suitor, or if St. Louis is prepared to tackle an undesirable contract as wage offset.

Some further baggage would possibly stand in a method of an Astros/Cardinals commerce particularly.  Former Cardinals scouting director Chris Correa was discovered responsible in federal court docket over prices of illegally accessing the Astros’ proprietary baseball operations database in 2013 and 2014, and MLB punished the Cardinals by forcing them to provide $2MM and their prime picks within the 2017 draft to the Astros as punishment.  Although Houston’s entrance workplace has since been overhauled and Chaim Bloom is ready to switch John Mozeliak subsequent 12 months because the Playing cards’ subsequent president of baseball operations, the 2 groups haven’t accomplished a commerce with one another since 2012, hinting at some lingering unhealthy blood.

Astros GM Dana Brown mentioned yesterday that the workforce’s resolution to commerce Kyle Tucker (and get Paredes again within the commerce package deal from the Cubs) didn’t point out that something modified in Houston’s pursuit of a reunion with Bregman.  KPRC’s Ari Alexander additionally hears from a supply that the Astros stay amongst “the sturdy 4” prime contenders for Bregman together with the Purple Sox, Mets, and Yankees, with the Tigers and Blue Jays additionally linked to Bregman’s market.

Technically, a situation exists the place Houston might re-sign Bregman, set up Arenado at first base, after which have Paredes at DH at any time when Yordan Alvarez is in left area.  However, extra realistically, buying and selling for Arenado would absolutely shut the door on the probabilities of a reunion between Bregman and the Astros.  Studies have indicated that Houston has supplied Bregman a six-year, $156MM contract, but when he and his camp have indicated {that a} bigger outlay is important, which may clarify why the Astros now have given extra consideration to Arenado because the finish of the Winter Conferences.  With at the least the Mets, Yankees, and Purple Sox in on each third basemen, it make sense that the Astros would additionally discover each choices out of due diligence.