Spring is in the air, and that means Major League Baseball is back—well, almost. With MLB camps opening across Arizona and Florida, teams are getting their first real looks at their rosters in action.
But just because the players have reported doesn’t mean the rumor mill has shut down. The hot stove is still flickering, fueled by a few notable names still lingering in trade talks and free agency.
Let’s break down the latest buzz from around the league.
Arenado Stands His Ground
If the St. Louis Cardinals were hoping to move Nolan Arenado this MLB offseason, they’ve officially hit a wall.
President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak confirmed the team is moving forward with Arenado at third base after trade efforts fizzled.
The Cardinals had a deal in place with the Houston Astros, but the eight-time All-Star exercised his full no-trade clause to shut it down.
Houston has since moved on, and with Boston signing Alex Bregman, another potential suitor is off the table.
Here’s where it gets interesting: Arenado isn’t just blocking trades—he’s being very particular about where he’d consider landing.
He reportedly has a shortlist of about five teams and made it clear on Sunday that he has no plans to expand it.
That puts the Cardinals in a tough spot, especially considering the 32-year-old’s declining offensive numbers last season and the $74 million remaining on his contract (with $10 million still being paid by the Rockies).
St. Louis has been willing to contribute some extra cash—around $15 million—but that hasn’t been enough to facilitate a deal so far.
Where does that leave us? The Yankees have expressed some interest, and the Royals and Tigers have also been linked to Arenado.
A deal could still happen before Opening Day, but it seems less likely that the Cardinals will find a trade that works for both sides.
Red Sox Check-in on Cease
Speaking of the Red Sox, they’re still in the market for pitching, and Dylan Cease is on their radar.
According to Sean McAdam of MassLive, Boston has checked in with the Padres about the right-hander, though their interest is more exploratory at this stage.
For its part, San Diego isn’t exactly rushing to move Cease. After adding Nick Pivetta and Kyle Hart to their rotation last week, reports surfaced that the Padres plan to hold onto both Cease and Michael King at least through spring training.
With Cease set to hit free agency after this season, though, trade talks could pick up if the Padres stumble early.
Boston, meanwhile, has already made some notable moves to bolster its pitching staff, adding Garrett Crochet, Walker Buehler, Patrick Sandoval, and Aroldis Chapman this MLB offseason. Will they make one more splash before Opening Day? Stay tuned.
DeJong Finds a Home in Washington
Paul DeJong has found a landing spot, signing a one-year, $1 million deal with the Washington Nationals, per The Washington Post’s Andrew Golden.
The veteran infielder split last season between the White Sox and Royals and slashed .227/.276/.427 with 24 home runs in 139 games.
At 31, DeJong still offers power and defensive versatility, capable of playing both shortstop and third base.
For a Nationals team that’s still in rebuilding mode, he provides a low-risk depth piece who could potentially earn more playing time if he starts the season strong.
Expect the MLB trade chatter and roster tweaks to continue as teams fine-tune their lineups with spring training now underway. The season is almost here, but the stove stays warm for now.
