This was as unexpected as it can be, as Nolan Arenado has exercised his no-trade clause to block a potential move to the Houston Astros. The Saint Louis Cardinals and Astros had been deep in discussions, aiming to finalize a deal that would send the eight-time All-Star to Houston.
However, Arenado’s decision to stay put has thrown a significant wrench into those plans. The trade discussions were centered around sending Arenado to the Astros with the Cardinals willing to contribute $15-20 million to cover part of his salary.
This financial arrangement would have left the Astros with a commitment of $40-45 million over the next three years. Despite these efforts, Arenado informed the Cardinals that he would not waive his no-trade clause for a move to Houston.