
04/15/2025
๐๐ค๐ก๐๐ฃ ๐ผ๐ง๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ค ๐๐๐๐ง๐๐จ ๐๐๐ฎ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ค๐๐ ๐ผ๐จ๐ฉ๐ง๐ค๐จ ๐๐ง๐๐๐
In a world where things couldโve gone differently, Nolan Arenado mightโve been suiting up for the Houston Astros this season. But in reality, he made sure that didnโt happen.
Back in December, the Astros had a deal lined up to bring Arenado on board. On paper, Houston seemed like a great fit for the eight-time All-Star, but Arenado used his no-trade clause to shut it down.
On Monday, with the Astros in town to kick off a three-game series against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Arenado opened up to reporters about why he said no to the move.
While he gave props to the Astros for their impressive run over the last decade, Arenado admitted he had doubts about whether theyโd keep it up. He pointed to their decision to trade star outfielder Kyle Tucker as a red flag.
โKyle Tuckerโs one of the best in the game,โ Arenado said, according to The Athleticโs Chandler Rome. โWhen you see a team move a guy like that, most players would wonder, โWhatโs going on here?โ Thatโs what I was thinking. And if Iโd gone there, it didnโt sound like [Alex] Bregman was sticking around eitherโthatโs another big loss.โ
On top of trading Tucker to the Chicago Cubs, the Astros also saw Bregman walk away to the Boston Red Sox in free agency. Houston had eyed Arenado as a possible replacement for Bregman at third base.
Arenado made it clear he wasnโt totally against the idea of joining Houston someday, but he wanted to wait and see how things would shake out with the teamโs roster moves. The fact that they were looking to bring him in to fill Bregmanโs shoes didnโt exactly inspire confidence.
In the end, the Astros pivoted and signed another infielder to a three-year, $60 million contractโslightly more than what they wouldโve owed Arenado.