"Red Sox or bust for Nolan Arenado" - MLB insider sees bleak future for $260,000,000 superstar 

Amongst the top names in this year's MLB hot stove is St. Louis Cardinals star Nolan Arenado. Though still contracted with the Cards, pundits and insiders have said that the Platinum Glover is seeking a move away from The Lou.

In the most recent episode of "The Baseball Insiders" podcast, MLB insider Robert Murray discussed Arenado's chances in this year's market. He said that if he won't be able to transfer to the Boston Red Sox, he would perhaps be locked in St. Louis for the foreseeable future.

"Red Sox or bust for Nolan Arenado," Murray said.

(from 26:53 mark onwards)

Murray was pertaining to the eight-year, $260 million deal that Nolan Arenado signed in 2019 when he was still a part of the Colorado Rockies. The contract is bound to expire in 2027.

"The market is drying up. However, there could be a change if there is an injury during Spring Training. I mean he had an opportunity to go to the Houston Astros but he turned it down so the squad pivoted to Christian Walker."

(from 27:10 mark onwards)

There were reports in December 2024 that the Houston Astros wanted to trade for Arenado as club stalwart Alex Bregman elected to test the free agency market. However, the move was immediately shut down as the Cardinals star said that he didn't want to be traded to Houston.

Insider Robert Murray theorizes Nolan Arenado could stay in St. Louis

Murray, along with co-host Adam Weinrib further discussed the other options the the multiple-time All-Star has if he fails to move to Boston.

"If it's not going to be the Red Sox, it might just result in him staying with the Cardinals. Even [his agent] Joel Wolfe said that he had a good situation in St. Louis," Murray added.

While being in a good situation is true to an extent, the Cardinals lost former NL MVP Paul Goldschmidt to the New York Yankees. Since Arenado's arrival in 2021, the Cards appeared in the postseason in his first two seasons.

However, the past two years have been tough. The team finished last in the NL Central in 2023 while last season they failed to make the playoffs despite a winning record.

Arenado himself had a somewhat underwhelming 2024 campaign. Even though he batted .272, the slugger finished with just 16 home runs, his worst tally in a full season since 2014. In addition, Arenado failed to capture either a Gold Glove or an All-Star nod for the first time in his decorated career.