Nolan Arenado Likely to Stay with Cardinals after Trade Rumors, John Mozeliak Says

Despite recent trade rumors, Nolan Arenado is seemingly staying put this offseason.

Per The Athletic's Katie Woo, St. Louis Cardinals president John Mozeliak said the veteran is "likely" going to remain with the team.

“(Nolan Arenado) is likely going to be a part of our club at this point," Mozeliak said.

Amid a rebuild that has seen veterans like Paul Goldschmidt and Andrew Kittredge depart in free agency, the Cardinals were trying to find a trade partner for Arenado this offseason.

Before Thursday, the most likely landing spot for Arenado seemed to be the Boston Red Sox. The Boston Globe's Alex Speier reported Wednesday that the Red Sox and Cardinals' trade talks "remain alive."

Arenado also seemed interested in going to Boston. ESPN's Buster Olney reported earlier this month that Arenado vetoed a trade to the Houston Astros and instead would have been "highly, highly motivated" to join the Red Sox.

Boston's interest in Arenado likely ceased when it signed free agent third baseman Alex Bregman on a three-year, $120 million deal Wednesday night.

If the Cardinals were still interested in finding a trade partner for Arenado, they could approach the teams that missed out on Bregman in free agency. MLB.com's Mark Feinsand reported Wednesday that the Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs both made offers for Bregman, so they might be interested in adding different veteran third basemen now.

Mozeliak said Wednesday that St. Louis was "still looking" for a trade for Arenado, but Thursday's comments indicate the Cardinals are willing to keep him on the roster, at least for now.

Arenado, 33, is coming off a season in which he hit 16 homers and 71 RBI with a .272 batting average. While the 10-time Gold Glove Award winner's prime might be behind him, he's still a reliable presence at the plate and a dependable infielder.

He might not fit into St. Louis is long-term plans as the Cardinals focus on building for the future, but having a veteran in the dugout is never a bad idea.