The worst-kept secret in St. Louis Cardinals land is the club's desire to trade star third baseman Nolan Arenado. Arenado has been a good and loyal soldier for the Cardinals, but age and injuries have caught up with him and turned his mega-deal into something of an albatross for the organization.
When discussing Arenado and his trade market, the issue is money, but in a somewhat complex way. With two years now remaining, Arenado is technically only owed $31 million ($16 million in cash in 2026, $15 million in 2027); however, his deal will cost $25.