A NY Mets trade for Nolan Arenado only works under 1 condition

The New York Mets made a pretty important list. As one of six teams Nolan Arenado would approve a trade to, we have to accept a reality where he is the starting third baseman next season.

The last two seasons have been a steady decline for Arenado who in 2022 led the league with a 7.7 WAR and finished third in the MVP race. This past season was his least productive since he was a rookie with several career lows. Even the defense has faltered although it remains better than many third basemen around the league.

Arenado’s contract isn’t even all that ridiculous with the Colorado Rockies continuing to pay a portion. The St. Louis Cardinals are on the hook for $27 million in 2025, $22 million in 2026, and the full $15 million in 2027. Arenado to the Mets isn’t a financial mistake nor should requesting the Cardinals eat a significant amount of his contract be the one condition required to make this deal happen. Rather, the approval from fans should only come if the Cardinals don’t demand any of the top Mets prospects.

The Mets should only trade for Nolan Arenado if it’s another dud return

When the Cardinals added Arenado prior to the 2021 season, it cost them five prospects. Only two have reached the majors, Austin Gomber and Elehuris Montero. I had to look up who Montero was. A .205 batting average in 739 plate appearances as a member of the Rockies—woof!

The Mets have prospects they should consider dealing away but only in the right situation. A pitcher on the rise, for instance, makes sense. An aging veteran position player doesn’t.

What is it the Cardinals are looking to get back or Arenado? If it’s one of the Mets prospects featured in the top 100, they better look elsewhere. One level down, the Mets should be careful about trading away any player who can immediately help them in 2025. All of those guys aren’t off-limits and sending one in a package for Arenado isn’t too ridiculous. Ronny Mauricio and Luisangel Acuna probably won’t coexist on the Mets roster in the future.

Because the power of the Mets is the wallet of the owner, free agency should always be the first place to look for roster upgrades. A trade does need to happen at some point or else the Mets are going to end up with a whole lot of non-tendered young players we once envisioned starting at Citi Field.

A trade package headlined by one expendable position player alongside some lesser prospects is all I’d be comfortable giving up for Arenado. The Cardinals unquestionably won the trade which landed them Arenado. Getting rid of his salary should be the only requirement to feel victorious when it comes to trading him away.