The St. Louis Cardinals’ clubhouse is buzzing with championship ambition, but beneath their glow lingers a quiet tension. The team seems to be out of sync at the moment, and the future of some players is in the spotlight. Their $260 million star has constantly been in the trade rumors for the past couple of weeks, and it has intensified. While the Cardinals are waiting for the trade deadline, MLB insider Bob Nightengale has revealed that Dave Roberts, the manager of the Dodgers, is interested in the Cardinals’ star. Guessed the name yet?
We are talking about the 34-year-old third baseman, Nolan Arenado, who could be on the move soon. With Dave Roberts seemingly interested in Arenado, Bob Nightengale said, “Meanwhile, they still are trying to trade All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado. The Los Angeles Dodgers have yet to express interest while still hoping that third baseman Max Muncy escapes his early-season struggles.”
And it’s true—despite performing consistently well, the Dodgers’ lineup has been marred by injuries. As for Max Muncy, he has been diagnosed with astigmatism in his right eye. Despite having a good 2024 season, Muncy’s batting average before Wednesday was just .180, and he made only 16 hits and four RBIs without any home runs.
For this reason, before deciding to make the trade, they are taking a little time to see if they can recover. The Cardinals, on the other hand, had previously attempted to trade their eight-time All-Star to the Houston Astros, but the deal fell through because Arenado invoked his no-trade clause. However, Arenado gave some not-so-subtle hints in the form of pictures on his social media handle with the “Dodger blue” background score by Kendrick Lamar, leaving fans speculating about his preferred trade destination.
Supporting the idea, Nightengale said, “The Cardinals still want to move him. I do think that Arenado will get moved at some point. If something ever happened to Max Muncy or something like that, Arenado would do cartwheels to get to L.A., his hometown.” But the Los Angeles Dodgers are unlikely to get him alongside Max Muncy while he still has a good amount of money in his contract.
Arenado is making $32 million this year and will fetch $27 million in 2026 and another $15 million in 2027. It might complicate things a bit in case he gets traded. However, Arenado has gotten off to a great start this season. He has made more walks while hitting for average, which makes him a great bet for any team.
Meanwhile, there’s another team that could acquire Nolan Arenado, too.
Chicago Cubs are in the hunt for Cardinals’ $260 million star
Amid the links between the Dodgers and the Cardinals’ third baseman, the Chicago Cubs are also looking for an upgrade at third base. After demoting their top prospect, Matt Shaw, the Cubs are looking for someone who can play alongside Kyle Tucker, which will heighten their chances of winning.
Newsweek’s Andrew Wright said, “Arenado was always floated on the trade market during the offseason and with it not looking like the Cardinals will be in a position to compete for a playoff spot this season, he may once again be on the market near the trade deadline.” However, the problem lies in the no-trade clause, which Arenado needs to waive to make the trade between the two teams successful.
With a strong farm system, the Cubs would look to get the best of Nolan Arenado if they had a chance to get him. Not to forget that Arenado might want to be in the open market, which could allow him to get over $500 million, given the current form he is having. In 2025, he has been batting at a .254 average and posted 3 home runs with 14 RBIs, with a .341 OBP and a .743 OPS.
Which team, according to you, may be the one to get the $260 million star?
The post Dodgers Stance on $260M Cardinals Star Revealed by MLB Insider as Trade Rumors Swirl Amid Max Muncy’s Struggles appeared first on EssentiallySports.