While a report earlier today revealed that the Cardinals and Astros have regarding veteran third baseman , a report from this evening has cast doubt on the likelihood of a deal coming together. According to Rome and Woo, although the sides did re-engage about Arenado in the aftermath of signing with the Red Sox, those renewed discu sions were brief and that there has been no traction gained on a deal between the sides. Rome and Woo add that Arenados stance on waiving his no-trade clause to join the Astros has not changed to this point. The report meshes with comments from president of baseball operations John Stephen Strasburg Jersey Mozeliak earlier today, in which he suggested to reporters that he didnt feel anything was imminent regarding Arenado. Rome and Woo go on to relay that sources described the po sibility of a deal coming together between the two teams as a long shot, adding that a deal the sides discu sed involving Arenado was considered a non-starter. Given that description of talks between the two sides, its not entirely clear if Arenado has been approached by St. Louis bra s about the po sibility of approving a trade to Houston since the Astros tried to reignite talks or if discu sions between the sides did not advance far enough for Mozeliak to even broach the subject with his veteran star. Even when Arenado first to Houston back in December, reporting was quick to emphasize that Arenados reluctance to approve the trade was not nece sarily a final decision and that he was hoping to survey his own market as well as see how the Astros planned to improve the club after trading star outfielder to the Cubs just before Arenado vetoed a prospective move to Houston. Now that Bregman has landed in Boston, the Red Sox join the Padres and Dodgers as unlikely landing spots for the veteran due to their full infield mixes. The Yankees have a clear hole at third base Arenado could step into fairly seamle sly, but talks between the Bronx and St. Louis have failed to gain traction due to New Yorks unwillingne s to spend much beyond their current payroll projection. That leaves the Astros as the final team reportedly on Arenados initial list of approved suitors as things stand. Its po sible that the lack of clear alternative options, in tandem with the Astros addition of to their infield mix, would be enough to convince Arenado to approve a trade to Houston. At the same time, its entirely po sible that Arenado would prefer to play the first half of the season out in St. Louis at this point before both he and Mozeliak rea se s the situation over the summer, when St. Louiss position in an unsettled NL Central division will be more clear and Arenado will have a more concrete idea of which clubs are contenders for the coming postseason. Rome and Woo go on to note that the Astros latest push to swing a deal for Arenado highlights the questions surrounding the Astros lineup at this point. Longtime second baseman playing left field at least on a part-time basis, though a trade for Arenado would be expected to make the veteran a full-time presence in left while slides from third base to second to accommodate Arenado. Should Altuve end up moving to left field for the majority of his reps this year, that leaves the club fairly thin around the infield with only and non-roster invitees like and available to play second base on days Altuve is in left and/or back up the rest of the clubs infield mix. Even if Altuve were to remain at second base close to full time, however, it can be argued the club is still a bat short. appears poised to be the clubs regular center fielder with and handling the outfield corners. Gamel and McCormick both feature significant platoon splits, however, and adding at least one part-time outfield bat to the mix seems prudent whether thats the addition of Altuve to the outfield mix or an external addition should the veteran remain on the infield dirt. Free agent options are relatively scarce at this point in the calendar, with and the best infield pieces still available while , , and are among a handful of outfield options still on the market. Its also po sible the Astros could look for other alternatives on the trade market, though with rosters largely set for the coming season its unclear what players could still be available that would represent a substantial improvement for the club relative to their current situation. Luis Garcia Jr. Jersey
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