Astros vying for Cardinals' Nolan Arenado despite trade veto

With less than 48 hours until the MLB trade deadline, the Houston Astros are linked to a few different elite veteran infielders. They'd all take the place of Isaac Paredes, the team's third baseman, who suffered a potentially serious hamstring injury.

One of the names linked to Houston is an interesting one: St. Louis Cardinals veteran Nolan Arenado. Bob Nightengale of USA Today revealed that not only are the Astros considering adding him, but the Cardinals veteran is open to it as well.

"The Astros, a high-ranking executive told USA TODAY Sports," Nightengale writes, "are exploring the possibility of acquiring Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa or St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado..."

While the potential for a Correa trade is appealing, he'd have to make the move to third base once in Houston, a risky move for the Astros to make with such a huge investment.

Instead, Arenado is a third baseman who provides elite defense and is significantly cheaper than Correa's $103.5 million remaining salary. The Cardinals' ten-time Gold Glover will make $56 million through the 2027 season, almost half as much as Correa.

While he's a cheaper option with better defense, he's struggled offensively this season. Arenado has a .235 batting average with a .664 OPS and an 86 OPS+, 14 percent below the league average hitter this season.

It's tied for his second-worst offensive season in his career, and while he could turn things around on the Astros, it is something to be wary of when making a deal for the 34-year-old Arenado at the deadline.

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But, with a no-trade clause, which he invoked in the offseason to veto a deal to Houston, a deal might not seem possible. However, Nightengale reports that just like Correa, Arenado "likely would be willing to waive their no-trade clauses to join the Astros."

It's a huge first step towards a deal being completed. Arenado already vetoed a deal to Houston once, but this report from Nightengale suggests he's changed his mind and would be open to a deal.

Arenado initially vetoed the deal to the Astros as he believed the team wasn't a serious contender this season. But, with the Astros sitting atop the AL West, Arenado is more open to a deal than he was before.

This connection is one of the two teams's have already explored once, and while a trade package will likely change from where it was in the offseason, the two sides have an advantage in trade talks, since they've done this song and dance before.

An Astros-Arenado trade could be in the works, as the team looks to replace the injured Paredes for a World Series run in 2025.

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