Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said Tuesday that releasing Arenado is "not an option," Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Cardinals will do their best to trade Arenado this offseason, and Arenado has said he's willing to expand the list of teams to which he would approve a deal. However, if the club is unable to find a trade partner, it will hang on to Arenado as its starting third baseman. Arenado -- who turns 35 in April -- slashed just .237/.289/.377 with 12 home runs over 436 plate appearances in 2025 and is owed roughly $40 million over the next two seasons.

Arenado is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.

EDGE Analysis

Arenado will take a seat for Game 162, giving way to Nolan Gorman at third base. Assuming Arenado doesn't enter off the bench, he'll finish the 2025 season with a .237/.289/.377 slash line, 12 home runs, 52 RBI and 48 runs scored across 436 plate appearances.

Arenado went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's loss to the Cubs.

EDGE Analysis

Arenado singled in his first plate appearance and then skied one to left-center field off Jameson Taillon in the fourth inning that found the first row of the bleachers at Wrigley Field. It was the veteran third baseman's second home run in 11 games since coming off the injured list, and he's driven in nine runs over that stretch.

Arenado said Wednesday that he will be willing this offseason to expand his list of teams to which he would approve a trade to, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Arenado told the Cardinals last winter that he would be willing to waive his no-trade clause to join the Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox, Padres or Astros. However, he wound up blocking a potential deal to Houston and remained in St. Louis for the 2025 season. Being more open-minded to potential trade destinations helps the possibility of a deal going down, but Arenado's declining performance and the roughly $40 million he's still owed remain major roadblocks. Arenado remains a plus defender at third base, but he's slashed just .236/.289/.371 with 11 homers in 105 games this season and will turn 35 next April.

Arenado went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and a stolen base in Tuesday's 9-8 win over the Giants.

EDGE Analysis

Arenado ended a power drought of 33 games, though he also missed a month and a half in that span due to a right shoulder strain. He has gone 8-for-30 (.267) with four extra-base hits and seven RBI over eight games since his return from the injury. Overall, the third baseman is at a .238/.292/.373 slash line with 11 homers, 50 RBI, 47 runs scored and three steals over 104 contests. Barring a massive surge this week, Arenado will finish the season with an OPS under .700 for the first time in his career.

Arenado was a late addition to the starting nine for Sunday's game against the Brewers, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. He didn't play an inning in the field and didn't take an at-bat before departing.

EDGE Analysis

Arenado's inclusion in the starting nine was merely ceremonial, as the Cardinals had him get introduced to the Busch Stadium crowd for the final time this season before removing him before the first inning got underway. Nolan Gorman stepped in at third base to replace Arenado, who is under contract through 2027 but could be a trade candidate this offseason.

Arenado is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Milwaukee.

EDGE Analysis

Arenado made five straight starts after being activated from the injured list Monday and went 5-for-20 (.250 average) with two doubles and six RBI over that stretch. Nolan Gorman will fill in for Arenado at third base Sunday.

The Cardinals activated Arenado (shoulder) from the 10-day injured list Monday. He'll start at third base and bat sixth in the Cardinals' series opener versus the Reds, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Arenado needed nearly seven weeks to recover from a right shoulder strain, but he's been cleared to return to action after going 1-for-13 at the plate in four rehab games with Double-A Springfield. The 34-year-old should be used as the team's primary third baseman down the stretch, which is likely to result in a downturn in playing time for Nolan Gorman.

Arenado (shoulder) will be activated from the 10-day injured list ahead of Monday's game against the Reds, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran third baseman has gone 1-for-13 during his minor-league rehab assignment with Double-A Springfield and will return to St. Louis on Monday after an absence of over six weeks due to a shoulder strain. Arenado is in the midst of the worst season of his career with a .245/.294/.366 slash line in 96 games.

Arenado (shoulder) will take live batting practice Monday and Tuesday and, if that goes well, will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Springfield and Wednesday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

If all goes according to plan, Arenado will play a few rehab games with Springfield before being activated from the 10-day injured list for the start of the Cardinals' final homestand Sept. 15. The veteran third baseman has been sidelined since late July with a right shoulder strain.