<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb-rumors-yankees-paul-goldschmidt-nolan-arenado-effect');   ga('set', 'title', 'MLB Rumors: Yankees’ Paul Goldschmidt interest could have Nolan Arenado effect');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MLB-rumors-Yankees-Paul-Goldschmidt-interest-could-have-Nolan-Arenado-effect.jpg"></figure><h1>MLB Rumors: Yankees’ Paul Goldschmidt interest could have Nolan Arenado effect</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-21T00:08:37-08:00">December 21st, 12:08am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-21T00:09:32-08:00">December 21st, 12:09am</time><address><a>Nathan Yasis</a>Nathan Yasis is an Associate Editor for ClutchPoints, specializing in the NBA.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>From 2021 to 2024, the St. Louis Cardinals enjoyed the luxury of having two elite corner infielders, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cardinals-st-louis-not-trade-paul-goldschmidt-nolan-arenado-2023">Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado, anchoring their lineup</a>. Now, the New York Yankees are reportedly ramping up efforts to acquire Goldschmidt, the veteran first baseman—and there’s growing speculation that Arenado could join him in the move to the Bronx.</p><p>Sources indicate that Paul Goldschmidt’s possible move to New York <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/paul-goldschmidt-nolan-arenado-yankees-rumors?partnerID=mlbapp-iOS_article-share" rel="noopener">could play a pivotal role</a> in convincing his former teammate, Nolan Arenado, to waive his no-trade clause and join the Yankees.</p><p>Arenado, a 10-time Gold Glove winner, has been a key target for New York, which reportedly approached the Cardinals earlier in the offseason regarding a trade. However, those discussions stalled as St. Louis was unwilling to take on the contract of veteran pitcher Marcus Stroman.</p><p>Acquiring both Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado, who have been teammates in St. Louis for the past four seasons, would enable the Yankees to reconfigure their infield. Jazz Chisholm Jr. could transition from third base to second base, joining Anthony Volpe at shortstop. This adjustment would create a more cohesive infield for the reigning 2024 American League champions.</p><h2><b>Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado playing together for the Cardinals</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Paul-Goldschmidt-and-Nolan-Arenado-celebrating-with-the-Cardinals.jpg"><figcaption>Jeff Curry-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>In December 2018, John Mozeliak orchestrated a trade to acquire Goldschmidt, sending pitcher Luke Weaver, catcher Carson Kelly, and infielder Andy Young to the Arizona Diamondbacks. At the time, Goldschmidt was in the final year of his contract. To secure his long-term services, St. Louis extended him with a five-year, $130 million deal, keeping him with the team through the 2024 season.</p><p>Mozeliak acquired Arenado from the Colorado Rockies, securing $51 million alongside him, in exchange for pitchers Austin Gomber, Tony Locey, Jake Sommers, and infielders Mateo Gil and Elehuris Montero. Although Arenado has faced some difficulties in the past two seasons, the deal stands out as a major triumph for the Cardinals.</p><p>In their four seasons as teammates with the Cardinals, Goldschmidt and Arenado combined for an impressive collection of honors: three Gold Gloves, two Silver Sluggers, four All-Star selections, and top-three finishes in the 2022 NL MVP race, with Goldschmidt taking home the award. These achievements underscore the significant impact they made in St. Louis over a relatively brief span.</p><p>Where these two future Hall of Famers fall short is in the Cardinals’ team success during their tenure. Since 2021, St. Louis has claimed just one division title and made the playoffs in only two of four seasons with Arenado and Goldschmidt leading the roster. The team’s overall record of 337-311 over that span, translating to a .520 winning percentage, reflects solid but unremarkable performance.</p><p>The Cardinals’ postseason performance with Arenado and Goldschmidt on the roster has been nothing short of disappointing. The team was swept in the Wild Card series in both 2021 and 2022, with the two stars combining for a dismal 2-for-22 at the plate. They failed to record a single extra-base hit, drew just two walks, and struck out seven times across those games. Their playoff struggles played a significant role in the Cardinals’ inability to advance beyond the Wild Card round in either year.</p><h2><b>The Yankees potentially acquiring Goldschmidt and Arenado</b></h2><p>In response to the disappointment of losing superstar <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/juan-soto-bold-predictions-765-million-mets-contract">Juan Soto to their crosstown rivals, the New York Mets</a>, the Yankees have made bold moves to bolster their roster. They signed left-hander Max Fried to a lucrative eight-year, $218 million deal, while also trading for elite closer Devin Williams and versatile first baseman/outfielder Cody Bellinger. Adding Goldschmidt and Arenado would further enhance the Yankees’ lineup, offering veteran support for reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge.</p><p>A key obstacle in any potential trade with the Yankees is that Paul Goldschmidt, now 37, is reportedly seeking a multi-year deal, according to sources. This could give the Yankees pause, especially considering that Goldschmidt posted career lows in several major offensive categories over the past two seasons, following his 2022 National League MVP award.</p><p>Arenado, 33, has three years and $74 million left on his contract, with Colorado still responsible for $10 million and $12 million deferred. This reduces the commitment for a new team to about $60 million. Arenado exercised his full no-trade clause to block a proposed deal between St. Louis and Houston, which would have required the Cardinals to pay an additional $15-20 million of his salary.</p><p>Goldschmidt and Arenado will certainly be missed in St. Louis, but it’s hard not to feel that more could have been achieved during their time with the team. It’s a bittersweet conclusion to a challenging chapter in Cardinal history.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

MLB Rumors: Yankees’ Paul Goldschmidt interest could have Nolan Arenado effect

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/astros-news-houston-christian-walker-nolan-arenado-trade-fiasco');   ga('set', 'title', 'Astros, Christian Walker agree to $60 million contract in free agency');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Houston-Christian-Walker-agree-to-60-million-contract-in-free-agency.jpg"></figure><h1>Astros, Christian Walker agree to $60 million contract in free agency</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-20T09:50:30-08:00">December 20th, 9:50am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-20T13:45:56-08:00">December 20th, 1:45pm</time><address><a>Joshua Valdez</a>Joshua Valdez started his journalism career as the Sports Editor for the Rutgers University newspaper before becoming an associate editor and Washington Wizards/Mystics reporter for ClutchPoints. He is a diehard Yankees, Jets, Knicks, Rutgers, and Tottenham Hotspur fan. When Joshua is not either watching a game or writing about one, you can find him in an art-house movie theater or working on a screenplay.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Astros</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Houston Astros thought they had a shiny new infielder in <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-nolan-arenado-shockingly-shot-down-astros-trade">Nolan Arenado, but he blocked the trade</a> that would’ve shipped him out from the St. Louis Cardinals. However, Houston pivoted to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-what-astros-christian-walker-signing-means-for-potential-alex-bregman-reunion">free-agent first baseman Christian Walker</a>, who’ll help stabilize its infield.</p><p>The Astros<a href="https://x.com/BNightengale/status/1870167840218853745" rel="noopener"> agreed to a three-year</a>, $60 million deal with Walker on Friday, via USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.</p><p>The Astros <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/nolan-arenado-blocks-trade-cardinals-astros" rel="noopener">were negotiating with</a> the Cardinals for Arenado, but the 10-time Gold Glover wouldn’t waive his no-trade clause, via MLB.com. Houston then pivoted to Walker.</p><p>The 33-year-old’s arrival means third baseman Alex Bregman <a href="https://x.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/1870158616831172705" rel="noopener">almost certainly won’t return</a>, via The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. Walker will play first, with Isaac Paredes at third.</p><p>Additionally, Houston <a href="https://x.com/Chandler_Rome/status/1870161217316405251" rel="noopener">will lose draft capital</a>, via Rome.</p><p>“Christian Walker declined a qualifying offer from the [Arizona] DBacks, so if a deal with the Astros gets done, Houston will lose its second and fifth-highest selections in the 2025 draft,” Rome said before the deal was finalized. “However, if/when Alex Bregman signs elsewhere, the Astros will get a comp pick after the fourth round.”</p><p>Walker spent the last eight seasons in Arizona after coming into the league with the Baltimore Orioles, where he played just 13 total games. The three-time Gold Glover broke out in 2019 with a .825 OPS, 29 homers, and 73 RBI across 152 contests. He continued to produce good power numbers, raking 36, 33, and 26 homers in ’22, ’23, and ’24, respectively.</p><p>Will Walker succeed in Houston?</p><h2><b>Christian Walker will be key piece of Astros lineup</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Christian-Walker.jpg"><figcaption>Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Christian Walker isn’t the biggest name in baseball, but he’s the type of reliable veteran that every contending team needs. Houston is no longer the powerhouse it was a few years ago, so it’ll need him to produce now more than ever.</p><p>Walker will have less protection around him in the lineup than past Astros first basemen such as Yuli Gurriel. With star outfielder Kyle Tucker and most likely Bregman out of the fold, the offense won’t be as deep as it used to be. However, Walker will still be surrounded by elite players like Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez, with shortstop Jeremy Pena providing another quality bat.</p><p>Even with the aforementioned departures, pitchers still won’t be able to pitch around Walker thanks to the other talent that remains in Houston. If the Pennsylvania native continues to show the pop that made him the big bucks, he’ll help make this new era fun for Astros fans.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Astros, Christian Walker agree to $60 million contract in free agency

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb-rumors-2-teams-checking-in-nolan-arenado-astros-trade-snafu');   ga('set', 'title', 'MLB rumors: The 2 teams checking in on Nolan Arenado after Cardinals-Astros trade snafu');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/0The-2-teams-checking-in-on-Nolan-Arenado-after-Astros-trade-snafu0-1.jpg"></figure><h1>MLB rumors: The 2 teams checking in on Nolan Arenado after Cardinals-Astros trade snafu</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-19T09:10:05-08:00">December 19th, 9:10am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-19T09:10:05-08:00">December 19th, 9:10am</time><address><a>Brayden Haena</a>Brayden Haena is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. A die-hard San Francisco Giants fan and a football fanatic, Brayden further channels his baseball enthusiasm through his podcast, where he delves into the latest in sports with engaging commentary. He also serves as the Defensive Coordinator for Heritage High School. His commitment to sports journalism is evident in his diverse experiences with ContraCosta.news and his dedication to delivering compelling and insightful content.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Red Sox</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cardinals-news-nolan-arenado-blocks-potential-astros-trade">St. Louis Cardinals and Houston Astros seemed poised to finalize a blockbuster trade</a> involving third baseman Nolan Arenado, but the deal hit a snag when Arenado opted not to waive his full no-trade clause — at least for now. Despite the Astros’ aggressive pursuit, Arenado’s hesitation <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6005277/2024/12/19/nolan-arenado-blocked-cardinals-astros-trade-analysis/?source=emp_shared_article" rel="noopener">has left both teams in limbo</a>.</p><p>Discussions between the two clubs reportedly reached advanced stages during the Winter Meetings, and both sides were optimistic that an agreement was imminent. The Astros were prepared to absorb a significant portion of Arenado’s remaining salary, while the Cardinals were only responsible for about $5 million annually. However, Arenado’s reluctance to commit to Houston, coupled with uncertainty surrounding the third-base market, brought negotiations to a halt.</p><p>Arenado’s decision to hold off stemmed from his desire to see how the market for third basemen, particularly free agent Alex Bregman, would unfold, via Katie Woo of The Athletic. Arenado reportedly wanted more clarity about Houston’s long-term direction, particularly after the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cubs-news-mlb-world-shambles-after-astros-cubs-kyle-tucker-trade">Astros traded outfielder Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs.</a></p><h2><b>The Cardinals will continue to seek a trade for Nolan Arenado this offseason</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Nolan-Arenado-1.jpg"><figcaption>Jeff Curry-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak acknowledged the complexities of moving Arenado, who holds a full no-trade clause. “These decisions are not something we ever take lightly,” Mozeliak said earlier this month. “(Arenado) is not demanding a trade. He’s not telling me I have to do it, but I think in the best interest of both sides, I’d like to try to find him someplace to land.”</p><p>The Cardinals are under mounting financial pressure, with declining television revenue and ticket sales prompting ownership to push for payroll reductions. Moving Arenado, who is owed over $60 million in present-day value including deferred salary, would provide significant financial relief. The Astros’ willingness to take on nearly $45 million of that burden made them an ideal trade partner for St. Louis.</p><p>Still, Arenado’s reservations complicate the Cardinals’ offseason plans. Mozeliak indicated the team would continue to explore other trade partners while considering alternative ways to cut payroll. Options could include trading players like Steven Matz or Erick Fedde, both of whom are on expiring deals, though those moves would not provide the same financial impact as dealing Arenado.</p><p>For now, both the Cardinals and Arenado agree that a trade remains the best solution, but timing and market dynamics will dictate the next steps. With teams like the Yankees and Red Sox reportedly keeping tabs, the situation remains fluid. However, unless Arenado’s stance changes, the Cardinals may be forced to pivot their strategy.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

MLB rumors: The 2 teams checking in on Nolan Arenado after Cardinals-Astros trade snafu

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb-rumors-nolan-arenado-shockingly-shot-down-astros-trade');   ga('set', 'title', 'MLB rumors: Why Nolan Arenado shockingly shot down potential Astros trade');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MLB-rumors-Why-Nolan-Arenado-shockingly-shot-down-potential-Astros-trade.jpg"></figure><h1>MLB rumors: Why Nolan Arenado shockingly shot down potential Astros trade</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-18T22:15:23-08:00">December 18th, 10:15pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-19T06:39:34-08:00">December 19th, 6:39am</time><address><a>Troy Finnegan</a>Troy Finnegan is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2023 with a degree in journalism and minors in communications and sports media, as well as a critical sports studies certificate. He has had a passion for sports his entire life, and enjoys covering and writing about all sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Astros</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>One of the best third basemen in the MLB made headlines on Wednesday. St. Louis Cardinals star <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cardinals-news-nolan-arenado-blocks-potential-astros-trade">Nolan Arenado shockingly used his no-trade clause</a> to prevent himself from being traded to the Houston Astros.</p><p>Earlier this offseason, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-nolan-arenado-waive-no-trade-clause-6-teams">Arenado’s wish list of trade destinations was revealed</a>, and the Astros weren’t on it. Instead, the Dodgers, Padres, Angels, Red Sox, Mets and Phillies are destinations that Arenado would be interested in. After playing for a bad Colorado Rockies team for a large chunk of his career and spending this season on a bad Cardinals team, it’s understandable why Arenado would want to go to a team that can compete for a championship.</p><p>However, that may not be the only reason that Arenado rejected a trade to Houston. It also may have just been <a href="https://x.com/katiejwoo/status/1869515729424560522" rel="noopener">too early in the process</a>, according to Katie Woo of The Athletic.</p><p>“Per sources: Part of Arenado’s decision stemmed from a preference to not make a decision this early in the offseason,” Woo reported on X, formerly Twitter. “It is unclear whether the Astros will continue heavily pursuing Arenado or pivot to other options.”</p><p>The Astros could continue trying to swing a deal for Arenado and see if he changes his mind, or they can turn elsewhere. Longtime third baseman Alex Bregman is a free agent this winter, so the Astros are looking for someone to replace him on the hot corner. The Astros also lost a lot of power in the middle of their lineup when they <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cubs-news-chicago-land-kyle-tucker-massive-astros-trade">traded star outfielder Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs</a> earlier this month.</p><p>No matter where Arenado ends up, a contender is going to get a quality player who can still get it done both in the field and at the plate. He may not be his prime self that dominated the game in all facets like he was during his time in Colorado, but <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cardinals-news-nolan-arenado-big-factor-possibly-waiving-no-trade-clause">Arenado is still a 10-time Gold Glove winner</a> who is one of the best hitters of this generation. The 33-year old will be a valuable addition to any team that takes a chance on him.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

MLB rumors: Why Nolan Arenado shockingly shot down potential Astros trade

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb-rumors-astros-emerge-as-serious-suitor-in-nolan-arenado-trade-talks');   ga('set', 'title', 'MLB rumors: Astros emerge as ‘serious suitor’ in Nolan Arenado trade talks');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/MLB-rumors-Astros-emerge-as-serious-suitor-in-Nolan-Arenado-trade-talks.jpg"></figure><h1>MLB rumors: Astros emerge as ‘serious suitor’ in Nolan Arenado trade talks</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-14T08:04:21-08:00">December 14th, 8:04am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-14T16:59:43-08:00">December 14th, 4:59pm</time><address><a>Zachary Weinberger</a>Zachary Weinberger joined ClutchPoints in October 2023 as a Miami Heat reporter as well as an Associate Editor. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 after covering the school's athletic programs since his freshman year at the FAU University Press, where he was a Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief. He then covered FAU Sports for The Palm Beach Post.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Astros</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>In the continued odyssey of a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cardinals-news-nolan-arenado-trade-rumors-could-intensify-after-john-mozeliak-statement">possible trade involving St. Louis Cardinals star Nolan Arenado</a>, the Houston Astros have emerged as a team that could be in huge consideration of acquiring the infielder. Even though there have been some who say the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/why-astros-must-avoid-trading-for-nolan-arenado">Astros shouldn’t trade for Arenado</a>, they could be in the market for that kind of player since the thought is that Alex Bregman will be elsewhere, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic.</p><p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5993876/2024/12/14/astros-nolan-arenado-trade-suitor/" rel="noopener">“In perhaps the clearest sign</a> the organization is moving on from Alex Bregman,” Rome wrote. “The Houston Astros have emerged as a serious suitor for St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado, multiple league sources told The Athletic on Saturday.”</p><p>“No deal is believed to be imminent,” Rome continued. “But conversations between the Cardinals and Astros have increased since this week’s Winter Meetings in Dallas, during which Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak acknowledged he ‘intends to try’ moving Arenado.”</p><h2><b>It’s “unclear” if Nolan Arenado would waive no-trade clause for Astros</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Nolan-Arenado-on-Sept.-25-2024.jpg"><figcaption>Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-nolan-arenado-waive-no-trade-clause-6-teams">Arenado would reportedly waive his no-trade</a> clause only for six teams, with the Astros not being one of them, which is an area that Rome debates if the star would do or not. If a deal would go down between the Cardinals and the Astros, the latter would ask the former to “help pay down” since he is owed $74 million in the next three seasons.</p><p>“Arenado’s no-trade clause gives him ultimate authority to dictate the process,” Rome wrote. “And it’s unclear whether he’d waive it to join Houston. Arenado is owed $74 million across the next three seasons, a sum the Astros will ask the Cardinals to help pay down.”</p><p>“Arenado, 33, is a 10-time Gold Glove winner, an eight-time All-Star, and considered one of this generation’s greatest defensive third basemen,” Rome continued. “His offense dipped last season, one in which he posted a 101 OPS+ and hit just 16 home runs. Arenado still boasts an .857 lifetime OPS and the sort of minuscule strikeout rate Houston is searching for this winter.”</p><h2><b>Nolan Arenado interest from Astros could call Alex Bregman’s future</b></h2><p>As Rome said, the numbers were down last season for the 33-year-old as he also sported a .272 batting average to go with 71 RBIs along with the 16 home runs, but Houston would still get a dynamic player. It was also reported that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-nolan-arenado-willing-to-make-major-change-to-help-facilitate-cardinals-trade">Arenado would be open to playing first base</a> if a team needed it.</p><p>It would also insinuate that the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/astros-news-astros-gm-drops-alex-bregman-statement-amid-rumors">Astros are moving on from Bregman</a>, who has been with the team since 2016.</p><p>“If the Astros do acquire Arenado, it would all but end any chances of a reunion with Bregman, one of the faces of Houston’s golden era,” Rome wrote. “And someone general manager Dana Brown called the team’s ‘biggest priority’ this winter.”</p><p>“According to both USA Today and MLB.com, Houston has a six-year, $156 million offer on the table for Bregman, who should command a contract with far more guaranteed money,” Rome continued. “This week, Brown would not answer whether the Astros have made Bregman another offer but reiterated his optimism for a reunion.”</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/cubs-news-chicago-land-kyle-tucker-massive-astros-trade">The Astros recently traded Kyle Tucker</a> as the team is going through major changes currently as they finished with an 88-73 record and won the AL West but would lose in the wild-card round to the Detroit Tigers.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2024 SEASON STATS
BA	HR	RBI	OPS	SB
.234	0	6	0.648	0

2024 SEASON STATS
BA	HR	RBI	OPS	SB
.234	0	6	0.648	0

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