KEY POINTS

  • The Rockies are listening to offers for Arenado as they contemplate a rebuild
  • The Cardinals have already been in contact and could make a deal work
  • Meanwhile, the Rangers are in hot pursuit of free agent Nicholas Castellanos

The Colorado Rockies are listening to offers for Nolan Arenado with the St. Louis Cardinals as one of the most interested parties, while the Texas Rangers are on the verge of signing Nicholas Castellanos.

Nolan Arenado is one of the game’s most coveted players and the Rockies are listening to offers from other clubs for the third baseman. He does have seven years and $234 million left on his current deal although his contract has an opt-out clause which kicks in after the 2021 season.

However, despite having one of baseball’s best players, Colorado isn’t expected to compete for the NL West title in 2020. That means that are ready to at least listen to offers for Arenado with MLB.com’s Jon Paul Morosi reporting that the Cardinals have engaged in preliminary discussions with the Rockies.

Nolan Arenado Colorado Rockies
Nolan Arenado #28 of the Colorado Rockies throws to first base in the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs during the National League Wild Card Game at Wrigley Field on October 2, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. Stacy Revere/Getty Images

The biggest hurdle in moving Arenado is the financial implications with so much money left owed to the player. However, St. Louis does have long-term flexibility in this department with only three players on contracts which extend beyond 2021; Paul Goldschmidt, Miles Mikolas and Paul DeJong.

Nolan Arenado also has a full no-trade clause in his contract but Morosi does not believe this to be an obstacle. The Cardinals have a deep tradition of winning in October and Arenado has a good relationship with Goldschmidt after the two won gold on Team USA at the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

The deal would be contingent on the Rockies fully committing to a rebuild. That would make a few Cardinals prospects very enticing including the recently acquired Matthew Libertadore and up-and-coming third baseman Nolan Gorman.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals aren’t the only club trying to make a deal before spring training starts in February. The Texas Rangers recently acquired free agent Todd Frazier and his big right-handed bat to cover third base.

However, they still want to add some more pop to their lineup and are close to offering Nicholas Castellanos a contract. As per Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, Texas wants to add the player as he could cover third base and corner outfield.

According to the report, the Rangers could also look to deploy Castellanos at first base, a position he has yet to play at the major league level.

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