Cardinals set to land Nolan Arenado in blockbuster deal with Rockies

CLOSE

USA TODAY Sports activities’ Bob Nightengale breaks down top free agent George Springer to $150 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays.

USA TODAY

The St. Louis Cardinals and Colorado Rockies delight in agreed on the parameters of a exchange that would send All-Extensive title third baseman Nolan Arenado to St. Louis, according to an individual with data of the negotiations.

The particular person spoke to USA TODAY Sports activities on the condition of anonymity for the reason that deal used to be no longer accomplished as of 10 p.m. on Friday.

There are things to iron out sooner than the deal goes via, including the wretchedness of Arenado’s upcoming opt-out following the 2021 season. If the deal will get accomplished, Arenado will sustain that opt-out and obtain an extra one following the 2022 season for waiving his no-exchange clause.

The Rockies are expected to send a minimum of $50 million to the Cardinals to quilt section of the $199 million Arenado is owed over the subsequent six years. St. Louis would send a pair of potentialities to Colorado.

With so grand cash changing fingers in the exchange, officials from Main League Baseball and the gamers’ union will delight in to approve.

Arenado has gained eight Gold Glove awards in eight sizable-league seasons and is certainly one of essentially the most feared sluggers in baseball. The 29-one year-outdated averaged 40 house runs and 124 RBI with a .300 sensible from 2015-19, helping the Rockies attain the postseason in 2017 and 2018.

St. Louis made the playoffs for a second consecutive season in 2020, however its offense finished 28th in slugging and 26th in OPS. Matt Carpenter used to be penciled in as the crew’s third baseman, however he’ll trip to a utility just if Arenado joins the crew.

Arenado struggled in the shortened 2020 campaign, batting .253 with eight house runs in 48 games however dealt with a shoulder injury that introduced his season to an finish in September. It used to be finest the second time Arenado had ever landed on the injured list; the first time used to be in 2014.

Arenado, making $35 million in 2021, signed an eight-one year, $260 million extension with Colorado sooner than the 2019 season.