Should the Nationals trade for Cardinals 3B Nolan Arenado?

The Washington Nationals’ rebuild seems to be ahead of schedule after a 2024 season that heavily featured impressive top prospects like James Wood and Dylan Crews.

With the young pitching staff displaying its capability of forming a solid rotation and active money finally finding itself in more sustainable areas of the team’s ledgers (a la Stephen Strasburg), Washington is poised to invest in the free-agent market to fill important vacancies.

We’ve already analyzed a potential high-profile fit in New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso, but perhaps the league’s winter meetings could offer another, this time via the trade market.

ESPN’s David Schoenfield speculated Tuesday that Washington would be an ideal destination for current St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado to be offloaded.

He cited Washington as being the second-worst ranked at the position in OPS, with only prospect Brady House (Triple-A Rochester) having any shot at the role in coming years.

Arenado would be another vital veteran presence for Washington’s youngsters to learn from, and his .272 batting average (16 HRs, 71 RBI, 157 hits) last season wouldn’t hurt, either.

But it’s his glove skills that the team would be most in need of. Arenado has 10 career Gold Glove Awards, the most among active players.

Shortstop CJ Abrams’ defense took a hit in 2024, with his fielding stats staying the same or getting worse in six categories compared to 2023.

Adding some critical backup for Abrams at the hot corner in the form of Arenado would take some pressure off him and shore up an area of the infield that’s been less secure ever since Anthony Rendon left in 2020.

Arenado does come with a $74M price tag over the next three seasons, although St. Louis might have to eat some of that cash to get him out of town in a deal with any suitor.

The league’s winter meetings will take place in Dallas, Texas, from Dec. 9-12 and will be closely watched by fans and press alike.

Two high-profile trades happened at the meetings in 2023 (the Atlanta Braves acquired Jarred Kelenic, and the New York Yankees acquired Alex Verdugo), so it’s not unprecedented to see teams enter with one roster and exit with some new additions or subtractions.