With a dearth of attractive power-hitting corner infielder options on the free agent market, the news that St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado is available has piqued the interest of numerous needy teams.
Arenado’s agent saying that his client is open to moving from third to first base only increased the options — and demand — for the 33-year-old slugger.
The Los Angeles Dodgers opened as the +300 favorite by SportsBetting.ag to add Arenado — a California native — to their star-studded lineup. However, where he would fit with Max Muncy at third base and Freddie Freeman at first is a big question. The Dodgers would likely be looking to keep Arenado at third in a corner infield mix that also includes Miguel Vargas.
However, it didn’t take long for the team the Dodgers dominated in this year’s World Series to charge to the front of the pack with oddsmakers.
The New York Yankees turned to pitching after losing Juan Soto to the cross-town Mets, agreeing to a $218 million deal with left-hander Max Fried on Tuesday. Could Arenado be next?
The Yankees opened at +400 at the sportsbook before those odds shortened significantly to +100.
The infield in the Bronx could undergo a major transformation this offseason, with first baseman Anthony Rizzo and second baseman Gleyber Torres free agents. The Yankees could move Jazz Chisholm Jr. to second base to make room for Arenado, or keep Chisholm on the hot corner and put Arenado at first base.
NOLAN ARENADO NEXT TEAM ODDS*
New York Yankees (+400, +100)
Los Angeles Dodgers (+300, +300)
Detroit Tigers (+600)
Houston Astros (+700)
Philadelphia Phillies (+800)
Toronto Blue Jays (+900)
Boston Red Sox (+1000)
Kansas City Royals (+1000)
Seattle Mariners (+1000)
Arizona Diamondbacks (+1400)
Texas Rangers (+1600)
Atlanta Braves (+1800)
San Francisco Giants (+2000)
Baltimore Orioles (+2500)
Chicago Cubs (+2500)
*Odds by SportsBetting.ag provided for entertainment purposes only.
Arenado has a full no-trade clause but has reportedly approved the Cardinals to discuss trade possibilities with the Dodgers and Yankees along with the Los Angeles Angels, San Diego Padres, Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox, according to MLB.com.
While the Phillies are +800 to land Arenado and the Red Sox +1000, both are being offered with longer odds than a pair of other 2024 playoff teams.
Agent Joel Wolfe told reporters at the Winter Meetings that Arenado is willing to consider “more teams than you think,” and USA Today reported that the agent has spoken directly with the Red Sox, Astros, Phillies and Padres.
“He would strongly consider it if it’s the right place to go,” Wolfe said Tuesday, “but he’s not going to go just anywhere. We hope something good happens, but he’s not going to approve and move his family and go play somewhere that would be (a lateral move).
“A team that he thinks is going to win now and consistently for the remainder of his career. He wants a team that has the throttle down — not saying that the Cardinals don’t — but one where he can jump right in and they’re going to win right now,” he added.
The Astros could make for a potential fit with longtime third baseman Alex Bregman exploring his options in free agency.
Arenado is under contract for 2025 at $32 million, 2026 at $27 million and 2027 at $15 million.
He is coming off the first of his 12 major league seasons in which he didn’t make the National League All-Star team, win a Gold Glove or both. He is an eight-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove honoree who has finished in the top eight in NL Most Valuable Player voting six times.
In 2024, Arenado hit .272 with a .325 on-base percentage, .394 slugging percentage, 16 homers and 71 RBIs in 152 games. The homer and RBI totals were his worst in 10 years, excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign.
Arenado owns a career batting line of .285/.342/.515 with 341 homers and 1,132 RBIs in 1,680 games.
–Field Level Media