Although the Los Angeles Dodgers still face a need for starting pitching even after acquiring Lance Lynn from the Chicago White Sox, their focus had reportedly gone to a potential Nolan Arenado trade with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Arenado is under contract through the 2027 season and holds a full no-trade clause. However, it was reported Arenado would waive his no-trade clause if it meant joining the Dodgers, and for potentially other clubs as well.
Despite the Cardinals not giving any clear indication of being willing to trade Arenado, they were said to have held some talks with the Dodgers.
According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said the Cardinals have officially ruled out an Arenado trade:
“I have stated we are not trading him, have not asked him to waive his (no-trade clause),” Mozeliak told the Post-Dispatch on Saturday night. “So at this time, we are working on building future success.”
In their reported trade talks, the Cardinals were said to have interest in Bobby Miller, Gavin Stone, Ryan Pepiot and Emmet Sheehan. A possible Arenado trade was also thought to include the Dodgers sending Max Muncy or Chris Taylor, and potentially both, to St. Louis.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers have been connected to Jack Flaherty and Jordan Montgomery, both of whom will become free agents after the 2023 season.
It’s plausible the Dodgers and Cardinals still work out a trade involving Flaherty or Montgomery.
This now marks a second instance in which the Dodgers have seemingly been rebuffed in Arenado trade talks. The first instance came when he sought a trade 2021 due to becoming frustrated with the direction of the Colorado Rockies.
Rockies owner Dick Monfort refused to trade Arenado within the National League West, much less engage with the Dodgers.
Dodgers options in place of Nolan Arenado trade
With Arenado off the market, the Dodgers are likely to shift their sights to starting pitching before the MLB trade deadline at 3 p.m. PT on August 1.
Along with Flaherty and Montgomery, the Dodgers reportedly have interest in Justin Verlander, Eduardo Rodriguez and Mitch Keller.
The New York Mets made more headway in becoming sellers at the deadline by trading Max Scherzer to the Texas Rangers.
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