The Astros¡¯ pursuit of Nolan Arenado has hit a major roadblock.

According to sources, the Astros and Cardinals were in discussions on a potential trade involving the third baseman, but Arenado informed St. Louis that he will not waive his no-trade clause to go to Houston.

The Cardinals were willing to send $15-20 million to the Astros as part of the deal to help pay down Arenado¡¯s salary, sources said. The eight-time All-Star is set to earn $74 million over the next three years, though the Rockies are on the hook for $10 million as part of their 2021 trade with the Cardinals, while $12 million of the deal is deferred, bringing the present-day value of what he is owed to roughly $60 million. The money the Cardinals were willing to include would have brought the Astros¡¯ commitment down to roughly $40-45 million over three years.

A source said there were still ¡°ongoing talks¡± between the clubs, though another source indicated that the Astros aren¡¯t holding out much hope that a deal will get done.

¡°It¡¯s definitely not close,¡± a source said.

It¡¯s unknown exactly why Arenado doesn¡¯t want to go to the Astros, though given his desire to join a team that can win now, Houston¡¯s trade of Kyle Tucker to the Cubs last week couldn¡¯t have helped its effort to land the 10-time Gold Glove Award winner.

¡°All I can say is that we were in talks with multiple teams, and we still are, but I have nothing pending,¡± Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said Wednesday. ¡°We're still working on a lot of things, and hopefully we have clarity as we get into the new year.¡±

Arenado has been one of the best players in the game since he broke into the Majors in 2013, but as the Cardinals look to reset their roster in 2025, there has been plenty of speculation that Arenado will be traded this offseason. Mozeliak fueled that speculation last week, telling reporters that it is his ¡°intention to try¡± trading the 33-year-old this winter.

¡°We both remain optimistic that both parties will remain happy somehow,¡± Mozeliak said during the Winter Meetings. ¡°[Arenado remaining with the Cardinals] is a possibility, but I¡¯m not sure that puts us where we want to be. From a financial standpoint of trying to move our payroll ¨C there are certainly other ways to do that, but [trading Arenado] would be a big help. It¡¯s financial, but it also creates a runway for someone else.¡±

With a full no-trade clause in his contract, Arenado will have the final say over where he goes ¨C or whether he goes at all. His agent, Joel Wolfe, indicated last week that Arenado is open to waiving the no-trade for the right situation ¨C namely a club he believes is ready to win now ¨C adding that the list of clubs Arenado would consider is ¡°bigger than you would think.¡±

¡°Nolan's willing to strongly consider it, if it's the right place to go,¡± Wolfe said at the Winter Meetings. ¡°But he's not going to go just anywhere.¡±

That apparently includes Houston ¨C at least for now.

The list of potential suitors has a familiar feel to it. The Phillies have been listening to offers for Alec Bohm, potentially creating a vacancy at the hot corner. The Yankees could play Arenado at third and move Jazz Chisholm Jr. back to second. The Mets could shift Mark Vientos to first base to open a spot at third. Ditto for the Red Sox, who could move Rafael Devers to first. Arenado has even said he would be willing to switch positions himself in the right scenario.

¡°Nolan was like, ¡®I¡¯ll play shortstop, I¡¯ll do whatever, but I'm not insulted to go play first, and I can win a Gold Glove over there if that¡¯s what it takes,¡¯¡± Wolfe said.

A Southern California native, Arenado would surely waive his no-trade to go to the Dodgers, but sources said that Los Angeles ¨C which has Freddie Freeman at first base, Mookie Betts at shortstop and Max Muncy at third base ¨C is currently not a potential candidate to trade for him.

Arenado¡¯s offensive production has declined in the past two seasons, though he remains one of the better defensive third basemen in the game. Moving him off third base would seem to diminish his value, but his willingness to discuss such a move seemingly opens his market to more teams.

There¡¯s another star third baseman available in free agent Alex Bregman, whose availability is likely preventing some teams from going after Arenado. The latest developments regarding Arenado could also keep the door open for Bregman to return to Houston.

¡°It¡¯s hard to imagine Arenado getting traded before Bregman signs,¡± a National League executive said. ¡°Bregman is younger and you don¡¯t have to give up players to get him. But Arenado is a solid Plan B for the teams that try for Bregman and don¡¯t get him.¡±

Spring Training doesn¡¯t begin for roughly two months, so a lot can happen between now and then. Mozeliak may have the intent to trade Arenado, but thanks to his no-trade clause, Arenado will have the final say when all is said and done.