Nolan Arenado is open to playing first base to facilitate a trade from the St. Louis Cardinals as he seeks a chance to compete for a World Series title at the age of 33.
“It’s like his biological clock is ticking,” agent Joel Wolfe remarked at the winter meetings. “If the team isn’t winning, it’s driving him crazy every day and night throughout the offseason. He takes it personally, feeling that the weight of the team’s performance rests on his shoulders.”
Arenado, an eight-time All-Star and ten-time Gold Glove winner, had a challenging season, hitting .272 with 16 home runs and 71 RBIs—his lowest output in a decade. His willingness to switch positions shows his commitment to winning.
The Cardinals acquired Arenado from the Colorado Rockies before the 2021 season. However, the team has struggled to make a playoff impact, being eliminated in the wild-card round during his first two years and missing the postseason entirely in 2023.
“The Cardinals are changing direction, which is fine. All teams do that,” Wolfe said. “If they’ve communicated that it might be beneficial to move him, he’s ready to explore options with teams that are in a better position to win.”
Throughout his big league career, Arenado has played 1,629 games, all at third base, earning Gold Gloves from 2013 to 2022. His defensive prowess has been a hallmark of his career, matching legends like Ichiro Suzuki in award wins.
He recently expressed to Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak his openness to a position change, indicating his willingness to adapt for the right opportunity.
“He wanted to be the first to offer that so Mo could inform other teams,” Wolfe added, highlighting Arenado’s proactive approach.
With a career batting average of .285, including 341 home runs and 1,132 RBIs across his time with the Cardinals and Rockies, Arenado remains a valuable asset. He is owed $74 million over the next three seasons of a nine-year, $275 million contract.
Arenado’s full no-trade clause gives him the power to choose his next destination, adding another layer of strategy to his potential move.
FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience 
