Eight-time All-Star Nolan Arenado blocks trade to Seattle Mariners’ biggest rival

Potential future Hall of Fame third baseman Nolan Arenado apparently won’t be joining the Houston Astros, the Seattle Mariners’ biggest rival.

According to a report from MLB.com, Arenado blocked a trade from St. Louis Cardinals to Astros.

According to sources, the Astros and Cardinals were in discussions about a potential trade involving the third baseman, but Arenado informed the St. Louis that he will not waive his no-trade clause to go to Houston.

It is not known why Arenado turned down Houston, which has been in the ALCS or better in seven of the last eight seasons. The Astros just traded away slugger Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs and also appear poised to lose Alex Bregman in free agency, so perhaps Arenado lacked faith that the Astros are ready to win.

The 33-year-old Arenado spent the first eight years of his big league career in Colorado, where he became one of the best players in Rockies history. As a member of the Rox, he made five All-Star teams and won a Gold Glove Award in all eight seasons. He hit 235 homers with the Rockies, hitting a career high of 42 back in 2015. He led the National League in home runs three times.

The Rockies traded him to the Cardinals in February 2021 for a package of players that included left-handed pitcher Austin Gomber.

Arenado helped the Rockies reach the playoffs in both 2017 and 2018 and made it there again with the St. Louis in 2021 and 2022. He has never won a World Series, which seems to be his primary concern when approving trades to new teams.

Arenado has shown signs of decline over the past year. In 2024, he hit .272 but had only 16 homers and 71 RBI. It was his lowest total in each category since the first two years of his career (excluding the shortened 2020 COVID season).

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