Astros’ Struggles Prove Nolan Arenado Right for Rejecting Trade

This past offseason, Nolan Arenado tested the patience of many fans when he vetoed a trade that would have sent him from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Houston Astros—a decision that derailed the Cardinals’ winter plans. At the time, it seemed like stubbornness: an aging star clinging to unrealistic hopes of landing with a preferred team.

But as the Astros visit St. Louis for an interleague series this week, it’s becoming clear Arenado saw something others didn’t. With Houston off to a sluggish 7-9 start in 2025, the veteran third baseman’s reasoning looks more justified by the day.

Arenado’s Hesitation Makes Sense Now
Back in December, Arenado’s refusal to waive his no-trade clause appeared puzzling. But during spring training, he revealed his concerns about the Astros’ direction—a sentiment he reiterated Tuesday, particularly in light of Houston’s trade of star outfielder Kyle Tucker to the Cubs.

“[Tucker] is one of the best players in the game,” Arenado told The Athletic’s Katie Woo. “When you see a team trade him, 99 out of 100 players would probably be wondering, ‘What does that mean?’ That’s the question I asked myself.”

At the time, Houston’s roster was in flux. Tucker was gone, Alex Bregman appeared headed for free agency, Justin Verlander had departed, and Framber Valdez’s future was uncertain. Given those question marks, Arenado wasn’t eager to uproot his family for a team that might be heading toward a reset.

“I respect the Astros because they can’t just wait for me to make my decision,” he said. “They have to move on and make their team better, which they did. They got [Christian] Walker and made other moves. I can see how it was taken as a ‘no,’ but they know I didn’t say ‘no.’”

Fast forward to April, and Houston’s struggles are validating Arenado’s caution. Their lineup ranks among MLB’s worst, their rotation sports a middling 4.43 ERA, and they sit fourth in a weak AL West. They’re not devoid of talent—but they certainly look like a team that could be retooling soon.

Exactly as Arenado predicted.