Cardinals Begin Rebuild; Arenado, Gray Likely Traded

The St. Louis Cardinals are beginning a rebuild under incoming president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom after missing the playoffs and will face significant roster turnover this offseason. Management must navigate several player no-trade clauses — most notably Nolan Arenado, Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras — with Arenado indicating he will expand the list of teams he’d accept and appearing the most likely of the three to be moved. Sonny Gray has signaled increased openness to waiving his clause and is viewed as a cost-effective, movable rotation piece, with the Texas Rangers identified as a plausible landing spot. Willson Contreras has said he wants to remain in St. Louis and met with Bloom, though he is willing to listen to reasonable trade proposals and his late-season shoulder issue complicates the club’s plans. The Cardinals also face bench and catching decisions — Yohel Pozo is considered vulnerable while Ivan Herrera and Pedro Pagés provide catching depth.