The St. Louis Cardinals are in a tricky and unexpected spot right now. St. Louis looked to trade star third baseman Nolan Arenado all throughout the offseason but failed to do so. The Cardinals superstar turned down a trade to the Houston Astros using his no-trade clause.

The Cardinals were on the verge of trading Arenado, their top offseason goal, and they’d not only pulled off a deal, they’d matched with one of the teams on the eight-time All-Star’s short and semi-problematic five-team list of acceptable destinations.

The Cardinals made it a priority to trade third baseman Nolan Arenado this offseason but the team has been unable to find a partner.

The Dodgers had not publicly expressed interest in the 10-time Gold Glove winner at any point in the offseason, but Arenado seemingly connected himself to the reigning World Serie

For much of the offseason, a Nolan Arenado trade seemed inevitable. But spring training is now rolling along and he’s still a Cardinal. Today, Katie Woo of The Athletic takes an extensive look at the twists and turns of the winter. Many of the details came out over the past few months but the piece also provides some new tidbits and extra context.

“I’m ready to work,” Arenado said. “It’s not awkward for my teammates and my coaches. And to be honest with you, it’s not really awkward with the front office. They have a job to do and I have a job to do.”

The St. Louis Cardinals have exhausted superstar third baseman Nolan Arenado's trade market and don't have much time left to move him before Opening Day 2025. U

Nolan Arenado, after an offseason filled with trade speculation, is back for his fifth season with the St. Louis Cardinals. While his return gives the Cardinals stability at third base, it could have a ripple effect on the playing time of younger teammates looking to carve out everyday roles.

The Houston Astros came close to completing a trade for Nolan Arenado in December before the St. Louis Cardinals star "balked" at the proposal, according to The Athletic's Katie Woo. One source told Woo the Cardinals had come as close as "the 1-yard line" before Arenado turned the trade down.

Nolan Arenado's future with the St. Louis Cardinals remains uncertain as trade options shrink. With key MLB teams pulling out, what’s next for the 10-time Gold Glove winner? The MLB offseason has been filled with rumors and speculation surrounding Nolan Arenado’s future.