Inside The Cardinals

Cardinals Franchise-Altering Mock Trade Sends $260M Star To Phillies

There are changes on the way in St. Louis

Patrick McAvoy

Aug 31, 2024; Bronx, New York, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) warms up prior to the game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
Aug 31, 2024; Bronx, New York, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) warms up prior to the game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images / Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
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The St. Louis Cardinals are at a crossroads and it very well may lead to a disappointing 2025 season.

St. Louis is expected to part ways with a handful of talented and high-priced players this winter. The Cardinals are going to trim payroll as they look to completely rebuild the organization from the bottom up.

The Cardinals want to fix their farm system, and the easiest way to do so is by trading star players for prospects. St. Louis has some to offer, and superstar third baseman Nolan Arenado has popped up on numerous occasions. Any team would be lucky to have him, and the Belleville News-Democrat's Jeff Jones floated the Philadelphia Phillies as a landing spot.

"With $74 million owed in salary (minus some deferments that teams must escrow) over the next three years but $10 million of that being paid by the Colorado Rockies, Arenado comes with a large price tag but not an unmanageable one," Jones said. "His offense dropped precipitously in 2024 but he rebounded from a disappointing 2023 to post an elite defensive season, and in a winning environment with the support of strong clubhouse leaders, he could very well fulfill his end of the value proposition around his deal...

"The Philadelphia Phillies, as yet unable to get over the hump, are also worth highlighting. Frustrations with homegrown third baseman Alec Bohm could see him on the way out this winter, though with only two more years of team control, it’s not clear whether he would fit the Cardinals’ competitive window. Arenado’s connection to several Phillies stars through."

Philadelphia has talent and has a real hope of winning the World Series in 2025. Landing Arenado could put them over the top. But, it would be devastating to lose him for St. Louis.

More MLB: Cardinals $130 Million Star In Danger Of Signing With Yankees, Per Insider

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Patrick McAvoy
PATRICK MCAVOY

Patrick McAvoy's experiences include local and national sports coverage at the New England Sports Network with a focus on baseball and basketball. Outside of journalism, Patrick also is pursuing an MBA at Brandeis University. After quickly rising as one of the most productive writers on the site, he expanded his reach to write for Baseball Essential, a national baseball site in Sports Illustrated Media Group. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding Inside The Cardinals, please reach out to Scott Neville: nevilles@merrimack.edu

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