DALLAS — The St. Louis Cardinals have let third baseman Nolan Arenado know that they will actively pursue trading him this offseason and have even allowed his agent to assist in finding a deal.

Arenado is keen to join a team that has a chance to win, with the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers being his top preference. However, he is open to waiving his no-trade clause for “more teams than you might think,” according to his agent, Joel Wolfe.

“He would seriously consider a trade if the right opportunity arises,” Wolfe mentioned. “But he is not willing to go just anywhere. We hope for a positive outcome, but he won’t approve a move that feels like a step sideways for him and his family.

“He’s happy with the Cardinals, but he won’t move without good reason.”

Wolfe has already engaged with several teams that have shown interest in Arenado, including the Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres, Philadelphia Phillies, and Houston Astros. Nevertheless, the Dodgers intend to keep Max Muncy as their starting third baseman.

Arenado, who resides in Southern California and spends time in Phoenix during the offseason, previously opted out of a contract clause twice to stay with the Cardinals.

However, the Cardinals are transitioning into a soft rebuild while working to reduce payroll.

His preference?

“He wants to be with a team that he believes will win now and continue to do so for the rest of his career,” Wolfe stated. “He wants a team that is fully committed to winning. I’m not suggesting the Cardinals aren’t capable of that; he just needs to be confident that he can step right in and contribute to a winning culture.”

“The Cardinals are changing their approach.”

Arenado, now 33, has three years left on his $74 million contract, with the Colorado Rockies, his former team, responsible for $5 million of that amount.

Arenado, a 10-time Gold Glove winner, finished the last season with a batting average of .271, 16 home runs, and 71 RBIs—his lowest statistics since 2014, along with a career-low .394 slugging percentage. Wolfe mentioned that Arenado has been focused on agility training and martial arts this offseason.

“He’s always striving for an advantage,” Wolfe noted. “He’s aiming for an MVP-caliber season next year. He’s never satisfied with the status quo.

The Cardinals brought Arenado on board from the Rockies ahead of the 2021 season. He was a three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove recipient, finishing third in the NL MVP voting in 2022, but the team has yet to win a postseason series with him on the roster.

Now, Arenado has the chance to chase his first World Series title as he nears the end of his career.

“We hope to find a resolution that makes both sides happy,” Cardinals president John Mozeliak shared with St. Louis reporters. “He isn’t demanding a trade, but for the benefit of everyone, I’m eager to find him a suitable situation.”