Cards add infield depth with Arenado trade up in the air

Working to add depth to an infield that could soon be without 10-time Gold Glove winner Nolan Arenado, the Cardinals dealt for third baseman/outfielder Michael Helman from the Twins on Thursday.

The Cardinals sent back cash considerations for Helman, who had three hits in 10 at-bats over nine games with the Twins in 2024. It is the first money-spent acquisition of the offseason for the Cardinals, who uncharacteristically have yet to sign a free agent.

The Cards announced a “reset” following the 2024 season -- one in which they posted an 83-79 record but missed the playoffs for a second straight year. St. Louis plans to train its focus in the season ahead on playing-time opportunities and development of a young core that includes Masyn Winn, Jordan Walker, Nolan Gorman, Thomas Saggese, Andre Pallante, Michael McGreevy and others.

Having already let Paul Goldschmidt and Andrew Kittredge leave in free agency and declining to pick up the contract options on veteran pitchers Kyle Gibson and Lance Lynn, the Cardinals could be close to parting ways with Arenado, who has let the club know that he would prefer a trade to a contending team over remaining with the rebuilding club.

The Cards and Red Sox have again engaged in trade talks centered around Arenado in recent days, a source told MLB.com. Arenado, who hit .272 with 16 home runs and 71 RBIs in 2024, has a full no-trade clause in his contract, and he exercised that option in December to block a potential trade to the Astros.

Boston would prefer to sign former Astros All-Star Alex Bregman, but it is in a bidding war with at least two other teams for the services of the free-agent third baseman, per the source.

A sticking point in any Arenado deal could come down to how much of the $64 million remaining on Arenado’s contract the Cardinals are willing to absorb. Initial trade talks in early January broke down when the Cardinals refused to pay as much as $20 million toward the balance of Arenado’s contract, a source said. After failing to make much trade progress elsewhere throughout January, the Cardinals reengaged the Red Sox, Yankees and Dodgers about possible restructured deals for the star third baseman.

One player the Cardinals have discussed as a potential return for Arenado, per a source, is slugging first baseman Blaze Jordan, the No. 22 prospect in the Red Sox's system. Cardinals front-office advisor Chaim Bloom, who has been named the club’s president of baseball operations in 2026 upon the retirement of John Mozeliak, was the chief baseball officer for Boston from 2020-23, and he has a vast knowledge of the Red Sox’s farm system.

Mozeliak has been adamant throughout the offseason that the Cardinals need to trade Arenado to free up playing time for Gorman and rookie Saggese. Gorman, 24, hit 41 home runs over his first two seasons in the big leagues, but he slumped badly last season with 151 strikeouts in 365 at-bats and finished 2024 at Triple-A Memphis. Gorman, who has played predominantly at second base in his MLB career, would switch to his more natural position of third if Arenado is dealt.

Saggese, who was acquired from the Rangers at the Trade Deadline in 2023 for left-handed pitcher Jordan Montgomery, made his MLB debut in ‘24 and showed tremendous promise as a slick-fielding infielder and a timely hitter. He also finished second in the Arizona Fall League in hitting (.391) in 2024, adding two homers, seven doubles and 10 RBI in 18 games.

Helman, 28, made his MLB debut on Sept. 3. The Texas A&M University product had three hits in 10 at-bats -- including two doubles -- in nine games with the Twins in 2024.