"Nolan Arenado has integrity"; "He doesn't like cheaters" - Fans react as 8x All-Star uses no-trade clause to block Cardinals to Astros move

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado reportedly invoked his no-trade clause to nix a deal that would have sent him to the Houston Astros, Fox Sports reported on Wednesday. While it’s unclear specifically why Nolan Arenado blocked the deal, the news was met with approval from fans across the board.

Here’s a look at what fans had to say about the eight-time All-Star blocking the proposed trade. A couple of fans brought up Houston's sign-stealing scandal back in 2017 and 2018.

“Arenado has integrity and refuses to play for a cheater organization. Respect,” a fan remarked.

“He doesn’t like cheaters,” this fan weighed in.

“It's great to see players standing their ground! Nolan knows where he wants to be, and that's what matters,” another fan opined.

While plenty of fans praised Nolan Arenado’s decision to stay put, other fans took to social media to suggest potential trade destinations for the Cardinals’ third baseman.

Here’s a closer look at some suggestions fans had to offer:

“Dodger at heart, bring him home,” a fan chimed in.

“Arenado to Anaheim,” this fan commented.

“Phillies,” another fan posted on X.

It remains to be seen whether the Cardinals will still try to move Arenado. While there should be no shortage of interested parties, the Cardinals may find it challenging to work out a deal. It’s early in the Hot Stove season, so the Cards will have plenty of time to make a move before the start of Spring Training.

Dodgers, Angels on Nolan Arenado’s wish list

An article published on December 18 by the NY Post reported that the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and Los Angeles Angels were on Nolan Arenado’s wish list. As such, Arenado would likely agree to a trade to any of the aforementioned teams.

However, there doesn’t seem to be much interest among those three California-based teams. So, Arenado reportedly told the Cardinals he would agree to a deal with the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, or Boston Red Sox.

The latter three teams could be an interesting fit for Nolan Arenado. The Red Sox have been vocal about adding another bat to their infield. Similarly, the Mets have expressed their interest to continue adding even after landing Juan Soto.

As for the Phillies, the team could be compelled to pull the trigger on a deal given the arms race in the NL East. With the Mets loading up and the Atlanta Braves being as tough as ever, the Phillies could use another premier bat to compete in the division.

Ultimately, the likelihood of Arenado donning a new uniform on Opening Day is quite high. So, it seems like it will only be a matter of time before Arenado finds a new home.