The Cardinals are days away from a doubtlessly awkward scenario on the ballclub’s spring coaching facility in Jupiter, Fla.
One which president of baseball operations John Mozeliak addressed Wednesday with reporters because the deadline for gamers to report by Sunday loomed, as did the prospects of an sad Nolan Arenado.
The Cardinals have been brazenly making an attempt to commerce the star third baseman to no avail, partially due to the total no-trade clause he has in his contract and Arenado’s want to finish up with one among 5 particular groups.
Mozeliak described the scenario, in response to MLB.com, as an “oddity” and stated the group is opening spring coaching, historically a time for hope and optimism, with “this over our heads.”
“Might one thing occur within the subsequent week? Presumably. Might this go into camp? Presumably,” Mozeliak stated. “So, I don’t have a definitive reply. Persistence is required.”
Arenado is predicted to report back to the workforce’s facility on Sunday if a commerce doesn’t materialize by then and might be on the sphere the following day for the Cardinals’ first full-squad exercise.
Mozeliak did acknowledge that he had but to talk with anybody from the star infielder’s camp in a number of weeks and anticipated some awkwardness if he does arrive.
However he added that Arenado continues to be a professional and understands the expectations.
“I nonetheless suppose he’s an expert baseball participant and he’s presently a St. Louis Cardinal, and all of us perceive as soon as you might be right here, you’re pushing ahead,” Mozeliak stated. “Would that imply making an attempt to perform one thing throughout spring coaching? Presumably, however there aren’t any ensures at that time.”
MLB.com’s John Denton reported in December that Arenado had six groups on his commerce want record, which included the Dodgers, Padres, Angels, Phillies, Mets or Crimson Sox.
On Wednesday, he reported that Mozeliak had been restricted to making an attempt to commerce with the Yankees, Crimson Sox, Dodgers, Padres and Angels.
The Crimson Sox doubtless got here off the board Wednesday evening after Boston agreed to a cope with Alex Bregman.
“In the event you suppose again to once we began discussing the opportunity of buying and selling him, we thought all alongside that we may most likely do one thing this offseason, but it surely simply hasn’t occurred,” Mozeliak stated. “In the end, I didn’t have a big record of groups, and it wasn’t like there have been 29 groups I may take him to, so I’m making an attempt to navigate what I may work with. Clearly, it hasn’t moved on the tempo many people had hoped for.”
In December, the Cardinals did have a deal in place with the Astros for Arenado, however the third baseman nixed the deal.
Time is ticking for something to get finished earlier than issues actually get going throughout spring coaching.