The St. Louis Cardinals have spent much of the offseason trying to trade their star infielder Nolan Arenado, but complications have kept him on the roster as the team heads into a rebuilding phase. With three years remaining on his contract, Arenado’s no-trade clause has severely limited the Cardinals’ options in trade negotiations.
According to Christopher Hennessy of ClutchPoints, the Cardinals' attempts to offload Arenado this offseason were ultimately unsuccessful. Hennessy predicted, “This Cardinals offseason was defined by their quest to trade Nolan Arenado. His no-trade clause prevented a trade to the Houston Astros and they could not work out a deal with anyone on his approved list. So the former MVP will remain at the hot corner in St Louis with three years left on his deal.”
Arenado reportedly cleared his no-trade clause for six teams, including the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, and San Diego Padres. However, unless one of these teams suffers an injury to a starting infielder, it seems unlikely he will be moved before the season starts, especially given the high cost of his contract. As of now, expectations suggest Arenado will be donning the Cardinals jersey throughout the 2025 season.
In addition to Arenado’s situation, the Cardinals had also planned to move several other veterans, including Willson Contreras and Sonny Gray, as part of their offseason strategy. Unfortunately, both of these players invoked their full no-trade clauses, making them more difficult to trade. This has left St. Louis with a tough decision to make concerning their roster ahead of the 2025 season.
On a brighter note, the Cardinals could still see movement in trading relief pitcher Ryan Helsley before the trade deadline this summer. Mike Axisa from CBS Sports noted that Helsley is regarded as one of the best rental relief pitchers and is already being floated as a potential asset for contenders like the Arizona Diamondbacks and Philadelphia Phillies. Helsley logged impressive stats during the 2024 season, finishing with a 7-4 record, a 2.04 ERA, and a league-leading 49 saves, setting a franchise record. If he continues to perform at this level, Helsley could command a handsome payday once he enters free agency after the season, potentially worth $100 million.
In the meantime, the Cardinals weathered through the ups and downs typical of spring training as the team’s pitching staff began taking shape. The author noted on March 16 that, despite some anxiety about the starting rotation, players like Steven Matz and Miles Mikolas have kept up solid pitch counts.
Matz has shown promise this spring with a .188 average against, making him a strong option for the starting rotation. Meanwhile, Matthew Liberatore and Michael McGreevy, two up-and-comers, have performed exceptionally well thus far, combining for sub-2.00 ERAs in Spring Training.
However, the same optimism does not extend to all players. Andre Pallante’s performance has raised concerns, as he has allowed 20 hits over just 13 innings pitched, highlighting possible weaknesses in the rotation. Over in the bullpen, Ryan Helsley has been limited to just six innings this spring, but he's kept a respectable .261 average against and a 3.00 ERA. JoJo Romero has turned heads with his 12 strikeouts versus two walks in seven innings without giving up a single earned run.
Cardinals' pitching coach Dusty Blake, who joined the team in 2021 as a pitching strategist before being promoted to his current role by 2023, has been working closely with players to integrate analytics and adjust techniques, a strategy he feels has been essential to optimizing player performance. Blake’s ability to work with a mix of established veterans and younger talent has been crucial for the Cardinals, whose focus now turns toward finding the right balance as they approach regular-season play.
At the time of writing, on March 19, the Cardinals hold a 10-12 record over their first 22 spring training games, indicating a struggle to reach that winning formula. A negative run differential has raised flags among fans who are hoping this is not a sign of things to come this season.
Despite hurdles, the team remains optimistic as they navigate roster adjustments and aim for a collective comeback in the season ahead. As the Cardinals look forward to the summer trade deadline, they'll need to solidify their pitching and find long-term solutions for the roster while staying competitive in the National League Central.
Baseball in St. Louis is known for its passionate fans and rich traditions, and the hopes remain high for a successful 2025 season. Only time will tell if these changes yield the desired results and if the team can return to contention in the near future.
