After an offseason filled with trade rumors, the Philadelphia Phillies ultimately chose to stick with Alec Bohm as their starting third baseman. However, if that plan doesn’t work out, they now have an intriguing backup option. St. Louis Cardinals’ third baseman Nolan Arenado has expressed willingness to be traded to several contenders—including the Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox, and New York Yankees—amid his team’s rebuilding phase. According to Jon Heyman, Arenado has recently expanded his list to include two more teams: the Phillies and their division rival, the New York Mets.
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Arenado holds a full no-trade clause in his contract, which still has three years remaining at a total of $74 million. He’s coming off his worst season in a decade, hitting just 16 home runs and driving in 71 RBIs—his lowest totals in a full season since 2014—dampening his trade value. However, if the eight-time NL All-Star regains his usual form early this season, the Cardinals could command a better return. Turning 34 next month, Arenado understands that his window for a World Series title is narrowing. Meanwhile, St. Louis has allowed Paul Goldschmidt to walk and is more focused on evaluating young talent rather than making a championship push.
The Phillies already boast one of the deepest lineups in baseball, and with Dave Dombrowski leading the front office, they’ll likely explore ways to strengthen their roster even further. Under the right conditions, Arenado could be a strong fit. If he remains at third base, where he’s played exclusively throughout his MLB career, several Phillies are ready to shift positions. Bohm, who logged 80 games at first base in 2023 along with a few last season, posted better defensive metrics there. Additionally, Bryce Harper has excelled at first base but has expressed a willingness to move back to the outfield if it benefits the team.
