As the Cardinals continue to pursue trades of their veterans, the Angels have emerged as a potential destination for Nolan Arenado. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic connected the third baseman to the Halos last week, and colleagues Will Sammon and Katie Woo echoed the sentiment this week.
Two potential roadblocks existed for an Arenado deal, one for each side, though the Angels have cleared up their end. As Sammon and Woo point out, St. Louis’ attempts to move the aging slugger have been hindered by fellow third basemen Alex Bregman and Eugenio Suarez still being on the market. Arenado would be a backup option to teams that come up short in pursuing Bregman and Suarez.
The Angels’ third base situation was clouded by the status of Anthony Rendon. The oft-injured infielder still had a year remaining on the disastrous seven-year, $245MM contract he signed after the 2019 season. Los Angeles resolved that situation yesterday, agreeing to a restructured contract with Rendon. The $38MM left on his deal will be deferred over the next three to five seasons. Rendon will not be back with the team in 2026. Following the Rendon news, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register mentioned Arenado as a possible trade target for the Halos.
Arenado is a SoCal guy, but that might not be enough for him to waive his no-trade clause to join the Angels. The financial aspects of the deal would also need to be sorted out. St. Louis has been able to move two of its three large veteran contracts so far this offseason, but both deals required cash attached to the player. The Cardinals sent $20MM to Boston in the Sonny Gray deal. They tossed in $8MM to complete the Willson Contreras trade, which was also with the Red Sox.
Arenado still has $42MM remaining on his current deal. The original eight-year, $260MM extension he signed with the Rockies runs out after the 2026 campaign, but the Cardinals added on another year for $15MM after acquiring him. By eating money in the Gray and Contreras trades, St. Louis was able to net MLB-ready starting pitchers in Richard Fitts and Hunter Dobbins. The Angels’ system isn’t exactly overflowing with talented starters, but players like Mitch Farris, Jack Kochanowicz, and Caden Dana fit the Fitts/Dobbins mold as young arms with minimal MLB service time who could contribute to a 2026 rotation.
It’s easy to forget just how good Arenado was in his first two seasons in St. Louis. He hit 34 home runs in his debut with the club, then delivered a monster 2022 that put him in the mix for NL MVP. Arenado slashed .293/.358/.533 and led the NL with 7.9 WAR (per Baseball Reference) that year. Teammate Paul Goldschmidt took home MVP honors, but Arenado earned his fifth Silver Slugger award and his 10th straight Gold Glove award.
Arenado steadily declined over the next three seasons. He provided decent results in 2023, knocking 26 home runs and finishing with a 107 wRC+. His power continued to fade the following year, as he posted a meager .123 ISO and the first sub-.400 SLG campaign of his career. Arenado bottomed out in 2025, slashing .237/.289/.377 with just a dozen dingers. He also missed time with a shoulder injury. Arenado’s 84 wRC+ in 2025 was his worst mark since his rookie year in 2013 (excluding the shortened 2020 season).
Despite the falloff at the plate, Arenado remains an above-average fielder and a solid contact hitter. If the cost is cheap enough, he could help an Angels team with an unsettled situation at the hot corner. The Halos largely relied on Yoan Moncada and Luis Rengifo at third base last season. Both players are now free agents. The current in-house options are Christian Moore, Oswald Peraza, and Vaughn Grissom. The trio could all be candidates to play second base as well, with Kyren Paris also factoring in at that position. The Angels have been bottom 10 in OPS at third base in each of the past five seasons.
Photo courtesy of Jeff Curry, Imagn Images
I’m sure Arenado is highly interested in Los Angeles, just not the Angels
Nah, he was open to a trade to the Angels last offseason, so it stands to reason he still is.
He’s from Newport Beach, so I’m sure he wouldn’t mind playing for the home team.
The Dodgers are the home team in every California city. Even in Anaheim.
I wish Georgia had multiple teams for every major sport we could play hopscotch with to root for based on recent success like you guys…California, New York, Florida, Texas, Chicago, etc…Must be nice, I’m jealous
He was born in Newport Beach, but grew up in Lake Forest. Close by so it doesn’t make much of a difference.
Superstar trending down, this is a prime Arte move. Would not surprise me if Arenado is also ok with it.
Baseball Reference shows $5 million of the $42 million is owed by Rockies for a net of $37 million.
Arenado might be worth $6 million per year, so dirty birds need to throw in $20 million in cash minimum. And that is getting back an unknown prospect who is there only to provide “cover@.
I’ve read a couple places where the Cards should kick in the $15 million that was added to the contract when he was traded as well as the $6 million that is deferred for this year. Angels get 2 years at $8 million per. Should get them a prospect or 2 in the bottom of the Angel’s Top 30 prospects. Austin Gorden and Hayden Alverez would be good adds.
It’s his hometown there son. He’ll be at home in Anaheim
@buc
They need to replace their overpaid and past his prime 3b now that Rendon is off the roster.
Anaheim is only a 15 mile drive to Newport Beach so it’s not completely implausable
This sounds like a negotiation tactic fired at Scott Boras. Arenado fired Boris and now is with Wasserman. Imai and Okamoto are both Boris clients. I sense a little cheekiness by Arte and Perry.
@nukeg. Probably back and forth. Sounds like okamoto is interested. Boras is trying to squeeze more money. so now they leaked information about arenado. He might not have a spot in Pittsburgh. With the angels they can let him try 3rd/1st/lf.
Another aging veteran with injuries, and declining numbers. Sounds like the last ten years.
Picking up Arenado after finally moving on from Rendon is the most Angels move possible
Haha, came here to say the same.
Arte shall Arte
LOL I was just thinking the same. Never learn.
Soooo true.
Ugh.
This would be a very Arte move and give him a player to promote but should not happen.
The Angels should be willing to eat Nolan’s salary if the Cardinals throw in good prospects but the Cardinals are in prospect acquiring mode and won’t want to do that. They’d rather pay the contract down a bit and snag what little talent we have.
If by “a bit” you mean “most of” … Angels can be very dumb, but I don’t think even they would pay more than $7-8m a year of Arenado’s deal, and send essentially nothing back.
Bang on. 2/15 is about right, so Cards on the hook for 20ish. Less the 5m Arte will kick in for the buzz of having another premium name.
This is an Arte move. There are some moves that are clearly Minasian and some moves that are clearly Arte.
I’m not sure why some fans have a difficult time telling the difference.
Arte willing to pay the entire 2 years and send back a top prospect.
Sigh..the Braves are also willing to surrender to the superior gamesmenship of Arte. We will reluctantly send you Ozzie Albies and take Zach Neto.
Honestly, I can see this happening. 1. The Cardinals HAVE to open up 3b. They dont have a choice at all. 2. They have to pay him regardless, so if he stays on the team, that means the habe to pay the full amount AND he locks a spot they needs to open. So, pay a ton of his salary, let the Angels take tine, and get prospect or prospects for him.
This would be a step back for the Angels. They should focus on Okamoto.
The Angels are the most disfunctional organization in pro sports
The Rockies would like a word.
At least the Rockies fired everyone and started again
The chargers and Raiders would like to fight for that title.
They are up there.
At least he can still play decent defense even if he can’t hit anymore. The Angels 3B were the worst in MLB defensively last season.
If the Cardinals send $30 million along with him, he would be a good fit here. Either that or Angels eat all of his salary and the Cardinals send a couple of their top 10 prospects. Bernal and Roby would make it worth it.
Yeah, I feel like people look at faded stars like Arenado and focus on him being washed up, even though he is still a useful player.
Plus, Angel stadium is top 5-10 in Park Factor, whereas Busch is closer to 20th, so while his .290/30/100 years are behind him, it couldn’t hurt to put him in a better hitter’s environment.
Angel Stadium is a good hitter’s park now? When did this happen? Always been a pitchers park in my opinion. Where good hitters go and then hit .40 below their lifetime average and hit 10 fewer home runs.
The cards aren’t looking to give up prospects. They would either trade him with salary retained or not trade him. They’ve already said that they would eat salary so as not to have to give up prospects.
Cards aren’t sending any prospects. If this happens, I think it will, the Cards will pay 20-25 million and get an Angel’s prospect in their bottom 30.
So 50 million and Arenado to the Angels
You want the cards to pay more than his salary 🤣doubt they are going to give up an extra 13 mil on top of his salary to take him. They would just release him lol
Yes, they can be interested in him all they want.
I’m interested in dating 1996 Jeaneane Garafalo
You mean Janine Turner? I wouldn’t think any sane person would ever want to date J.G.
Hey man to each their own
They need loser to replace Rendon
This is why the Angels will continue into their 10th losing season in a row. They need to rebuild.
I highly doubt the Cardinals will get decent offer for Arenado. As bad the Angels organization is, most rebuilds fail ( ie White Sox rebuild 1.0 and currently the Nats and the Rockies at the moment).
Why? What purpose does he serve? Take the money you would have spent on Arenado and reinvest in minor league development. The former does nothing to help this team, the latter does everything
Another bust
As others said, the Cards want to get prospects, which would mean they would expect to pay down a bunch of the salary in return for better return from the Angels.
That’s exactly the opposite of what the Angels should want. They should be taking on most of the salary, and getting a prospect from the Cards and giving very little back.
This isn’t a good matchup. But I’m not saying that the Angels won’t make this mistake.
The cards have already said they are not looking to add prospects to just trade him. Thats counterproductive to a rebuild.
This has “big name” Arte Moreno’s fingerprints all over it. Yet another reason the Angels will not win under his unstable, bipolar ownership.
Red Sox take Arrenado and Romero and give the Cards Yoshida and Uberstine, and Sandlin in return
Bloom should consider a proposal like this imo
Arenado is cooked. Perfect for the Angels.
Nothing like getting away from your washed up 3B just to trade for another one.
On brand
There is no way that the Angels are interested in Arenado unless the Cards pick up 30-35 million of the remaining money. Also, they may net Ferris in return, but no chance they get Dana unless they are including Nootbar.
He has 2/$37M left from the Cardinals, with the Rockies covering an additional $5M. Cardinals were OK with paying $15M-$20M in the deal with Houston last year, so if they did the same this year, that’s roughly 2/$20M left for the acquiring team.
I imagine it wouldn’t be for Farris but for a player even further away who Bloom would hope the new player development initiatives could help.
The angels should really talk to the Yankees about getting Ryan McMahon. He’s younger and he’s a better option.
Already got Peraza from the Yankees.. not that this means anything.
The reality is the Cardinals just need to move on. They’re clearly going all in on the kids now. Which will result in 2 million attendance (as opposed to 3), and probably a last place finish. This is starting to already feel like a 100 loss team.
I don’t hate on Arenado. But his salary is the biggest encumbrance right now. He’s still pretty good at 3b. We’d miss that. But his bat is his bat. He seemed hurt to me all year. Or just SO SLOW at the plate reaction-wise that age has caught up to him. I hate that less than the Club and he does. But it’s time to move on for all parties.
If he costs nothing, why not? He at least stays on the field compared to Rendon.
He’s not going to cost nothing.
I could see the cards picking up 25 to 30 mil of the 42mil still owed. Rockies are on the hook for 5mil of the total 42mil. That would make him an 8 mil over 2 year player. I would take arenado for 3.5 mil a year.
If it’s only 10 million, and the Angels don’t have to give up anyone, sure. But I’d be shocked if that’s the case.
And by the way…40 man roster spots have value, that’s how the Angels lost Kirby Yates. I’m not a big fan giving up these spots, especially when a team has no chance to compete.
Wells, Rendon, …I’m blanking on others for the moment, haven’t the Angels had enough turkey?
Josh Hamilton.
Apparently Moreno is a glutton for punishment.
i would love to see nootbar come in a package help us with let moore grow up instead of rush him
Hard pass. I dont want to pay Arrenado’s full salary (or close to it) and I dont want to give up any prospects if the Cards pay down his salary.
angels fans for life, my comment shows as a response to yours. That was not intended. Mine is just a general comment.
I could see the cards trading noot. He would be a good pickup for the angels
Angels should offer to take Arenado with no cash as long as they include Donovan
Cardinals would just release Arenado without lowering their asking price on Donovan before it came to that.
Such an Angels move lol
I’ve been getting Nolan Arenado and Anthony Rendon mixed up in my head for years, and this is the funniest happening of it yet.
Just remember, the player with REN in his last name is the one who was a former star 3b who signed a massive contract that hasn’t panned out, especially after it started out successfully.
Hahaha of course they are.
Maybe like 7-8 years ago that would be good
Lolmets is funny
Lolangels makes me sad
Bloom admitted in the Contreras press conference that he wasn’t necessarily focusing on acquiring starting pitching in trades and that was just how those deals presented themselves. GM speak or not, I don’t think Bloom is limiting himself to only looking for pitching.
That said, I am intrigued by Xavier Mitchell, CJ Gray, and Ubaldo Soto in the Angels system. Haha.
Would paying 25 to 30 mil bring that type of prospect back? I think so. At 3 to 4 mil a year for arenado for 2 years would be a great pickup
I don’t think the Cardinals would eat more than $20M, nor do I think they necessarily should, to get a lottery ticket in a system that is already pretty barren. Even though Arenado has minimal value, 1 WAR is still worth like $8M on the market, right?
That’s what it’s worth to a contender. It’s not worth anything close to that for a team in a rebuild.
Go for it Arte, lol! Go A’s.
Arrenando can field. So can Denver Guzman. I like Nolan. I hope they get him.
Seems like a good fit. Angels have been looking at guys who could bounce back. He NEEDS a bounceback if he’s going to keep playing, and the Cardinals need to free up 3B and ABs for younger players.
Arenado is a waste of time for the Angels. They should be looking for a trade for a possible long term piece. Maybe a Baty from the Mets or Bohm from Philly. But not another old washed up, over-paid guy.
The Angels go from one bad rhird base idea to another. Arenado has been barely a league average hitter and his defense is good not great anymore.
How quickly baseball “fans” forget that Nolan is only a couple of seasons removed from a 8 war season, Trout is only a couple of seasons removed from a 7 war season, the rising star in Teodosio, the superstar in Neto, the farm system, the stadium renovations, the sound system upgrade, the video board upgrade, Arte’s commitment and promise to the city of Anaheim, the expert maneuvering of Minasian,, etc. .
Anaheim could be a sleeper team this year, they could easily make some major waves. This could be special.
“Could be..sleeper..major waves”…And I “could” end up dating Tom Brady’s ex, Giselle Bundchen. It “could” happen although it’s highly unlikely and it’s most definitely not the way to bet.
So if teams could go back in time these players would totally be worth it. Got it.
So no comment about the upgraded sounds system, the upgraded video monitor, the stadium upgrades, the improved and revamped fan experience in general, about Art’s commitment and honor and promise to the city. Got it.
Deal is a lot easier to make if the Cards take Soler in return. Brings the cash adjustment to 10m or so.
Sure Soler is bad but the Cards need RH bats so might be happy to squint a little.
Could definitely see this happening.
No … ? Why would the Cardinals take Soler? All indications are the Cardinals are fine with including cash to increase the return (have included nearly $30M so far this offseason), not the other way around.
They have a stated need for a veteran RH OF, and this deal saves them spending that money.
Simply a case of a warm body, even one who struggles to break into a run, being better than nothing. Even as a DH/bench bat he has some value in mitigating the Cards huge weakness against LHP.
Say what you will but the fit is there and some home cooking could be just what the doctor ordered for Nolan.
Hope they get him and the Tigers stay far, far away.
This is a good fit and Moreno is far more likely to bring in the former star than take a shot at Okamoto.
Arenado was willing to waive his no trade to play for the Angels last season and they have a huge hole at 3B. He would actually be an upgrade on defense and offense for them.
I don’t see the Cardinals giving up prospects to rid themselves of Arenado, so maybe $16 million in salary the next 2 years? Cardinals get a lottery ticket back.
Arte never disappoints trying to keep his fan base on their toes .. one of these expensive moves will eventually have to pay dividends
Setting suns sells