This MLB season has been anything but kind to superstar infielder Nolan Arenado as Cardinals fans wait for Missouri sports betting to start in 2025. But St. Louis could get a solid return on investment if the team opts to move the 13th year veteran before the trade deadline.
So BetMissouri.com compiled some odds on where the eight-time All-Star third baseman might wind up by the end of this season. The Cardinals are still in the driver’s seat to keep Arenado as the season rolls on.
Team | Odds | Percent Chance |
Stay with St. Louis Cardinals | +175 | 36.4% |
New York Yankees | +550 | 15.4% |
Los Angeles Dodgers | +600 | 14.3% |
Detroit Tigers | +900 | 10.0% |
Boston Red Sox | +1250 | 7.4% |
Chicago Cubs | +1750 | 5.4% |
Philadelphia Phillies | +1750 | 5.4% |
The Field | +1500 | 6.3% |
The odds that Arenado goes anywhere this season seem slim, given that he has two years left on the eight-year, $260 million contract he signed when he was still with the Colorado Rockies. So BetMissouri.com, where you can track St. Louis Cardinals odds even before the state launches legal sportsbooks, is riding with the Cardinals to keep the third baseman until proven otherwise.
That’s why we give St. Louis +175 odds of keeping Arenado in town through the end of the season (or longer).
Other contenders for him include the usual suspects, such as the New York Yankees (+550), Los Angeles Dodgers (+600) or Detroit Tigers (+900). These teams either have no issue blowing through money or have enough prospect capital to entice the Cardinals’ front office to make a deal palatable.
Outside of those three, other contenders to land Arenado before the deadline include the Boston Red Sox at +1250, then the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies, who both round out our list at +1750 each.
Current MLB betting odds have the Cards (who are 33-26 as of June 2, four games behind the Cubs in the NL Central) at +150 to make the playoffs and -185 to miss.
If any other team lands Arenado, it will get a player on the downswing of his career. The veteran third baseman currently is wallowing through a tough campaign with six home runs and a .228 batting average in 54 games. That puts him at risk of having a career-low Wins Above Replacement (WAR) figure in 2025; his lowest WAR (according to Baseball Reference) for a full season was 2.2 in 2023, when he played in 144 games with St. Louis.
For now, we think any deal for the 34-year-old is doubtful at best, with the Cardinals likely having to endure eating Arenado’s contract in the years ahead. Turn to BetMissouri.com for the best Missouri sportsbook promo codes when statewide legal wagering gets underway.
USA Today photo by Daniel Kucin Jr.
The St. Louis Cardinals are favored to keep him, but current odds suggest there’s a realistic chance Nolan Arenado could be traded. Several top contenders, such as the Yankees and Dodgers, are in the mix according to betting markets.
Trade rumors intensified after the Cardinals got off to a slow start; also, Arenado’s high market value is a factor. Teams with postseason aspirations might pursue him to upgrade their infield and power-hitting depth.
Besides the Cardinals, the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers are top betting favorites. Other possible destinations include the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs.
Author
Christopher Boan is a lead writer for BetMissouri.com, specializing in covering state issues. He has covered sports and sports betting in Arizona for more than seven years, including stops at ArizonaSports.com, the Tucson Weekly and the Green Valley News.
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