Something big is brewing in the trade market, and it could shake up the entire landscape for Nolan Arenado’s future. The Chicago Cubs just pulled off a major move, but the real shock isn’t what they gained—it’s the unexpected ripple effect it’s having on the St. Louis Cardinals’ ability to trade their star third baseman. With a key piece now off the board and another domino about to fall, the window for an Arenado deal may be about to swing wide open.
Cubs’ Big Trade Sparks Unexpected Shift in Cardinals’ Plans for Nolan Arenado
Believe it or not, the Ryan Pressly trade might actually jump-start Nolan Arenado’s market in a surprising way.
It’s not every day that a major move by the Chicago Cubs ends up benefiting their division rival, the St. Louis Cardinals. Yet, in this case, the Cubs may have inadvertently done the Cardinals a massive favor.
Chicago finalized a deal with the Houston Astros to acquire veteran closer Ryan Pressly, one of the most dominant bullpen arms in baseball over the past seven seasons. And no, this isn’t about the Cubs making a misstep or handing the Cardinals an advantage by accident—Pressly is an excellent addition and will be a key piece in Chicago’s push for contention.
This marks the second major trade between the Cubs and Astros this offseason, following Houston’s blockbuster acquisition of superstar outfielder Kyle Tucker in December. That earlier trade arguably hindered the Cardinals’ ability to move Arenado, as it reportedly made him hesitant about Houston as a landing spot, prompting them to pivot to signing Christian Walker instead. However, this latest trade might actually open the door for Arenado’s market to heat up again.
Astros’ Trade of Pressly Could Lead to Alex Bregman Re-Signing—And That’s Huge for Arenado’s Market
Yes, you read that correctly. For the past week, speculation has been swirling that Houston moving Pressly would create the financial flexibility to work out a long-term deal with Alex Bregman. And if you’ve been following the Arenado trade rumors, you know that one of the biggest roadblocks right now is teams waiting to see where Bregman lands. Once he’s off the board, Arenado could quickly become the top target for multiple teams.
If Bregman stays in Houston, the Boston Red Sox suddenly emerge as the frontrunner for Arenado. Red Sox manager Alex Cora and shortstop Trevor Story have already voiced their support for bringing him to Boston, adding fuel to the fire. But even if Bregman doesn’t return to the Astros, Houston’s move to clear salary could ramp up the pressure on Boston and other potential Bregman suitors—potentially triggering a chain reaction that accelerates Arenado’s trade talks.
Why This Ultimately Helps the Cardinals
The longer this saga drags on, the better it looks for St. Louis. While both the Cardinals and Arenado remain open to a trade, Arenado has been selective about his potential destinations, and the Cardinals want to ensure they get proper value in return. Right now, the market for him is at a standstill. But if Bregman signs soon, expect the dominoes to fall quickly and Arenado’s future to become much clearer.
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