Cardinals insider offers up risky trade for Mariners to solve third base situation

The Seattle Mariners have a gaping hole at third base that needs to be addressed before Opening Day in 2025. They also have a hole at first. And potentially second. But let's focus on one problem at a time.

Mariners owner and chairman John Stanton has already said that he doesn't plan to be a big spender in free agency, effectively ruling out Alex Bregman of the Houston Astros as a potential offseason target. So, that leaves the trade market as Seattle's best bet for landing a quality third baseman.

If the Mariners do plan to go the trade route, perhaps they should look to the St. Louis Cardinals as a potential dance partner. Cardinals beat writer John Denton of MLB.com indicated in a column earlier this week that St. Louis could be inclined to consider trading eight-time All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado this offseason as the club continues its current rebuild.

Mariners-Cardinals trade proposal could solve Seattle's third base problem

Arenado, who played for the Colorado Rockies from 2013-2020 and for St. Louis since 2021, has never made it any further than a National League Division Series in his 12-year MLB career. He has a career slash line of .285/.342/.515 and led the NL in home runs three times in 2015, 2016 and 2018.

In addition to his successful track record at the plate, Arenado is also recognized as one of the best defensive third basemen of all time. He has 10 Gold Gloves to his name, having won the award in each of his first 10 MLB seasons from 2013-22.

Denton noted that Arenado does have a no-trade clause in his contract, so he would have to agree before a deal is made to move him to another team. But it sounds like that wouldn't be a problem if the team in question were the Mariners. According to Denton, Arenado "has mentioned repeatedly that he feels the clock on his career ticking, and he wants to be on a team that can compete for a World Series."

Seattle could balk at Arenado's price tag, however. He is set to earn $21 million in 2025, $16 million in 2026 and $15 million in 2027 in the remaining three years on his contract. That's an awful lot to commit to an aging infielder coming off a down year by his standards as his offensive production continues to gradually decline. Not to mention, it's doubtful he'll come cheap in negotiations with the Cardinals, though there is a way for Jerry Dipoto to apply pressure given St. Louis' precarious situation.

Acquiring Arenado would be a considerable gamble for the Mariners, but the risk could very well be worth the potential reward if he bounces back in 2025.

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