MLB rumors: Another team could spoil Cardinals’ Nolan Arenado trade

There is one team that could spoil the St. Louis Cardinals quest in trading for Nolan Arenado.

Colorado Rockies superstar third baseman Nolan Arenado is on the trading block. While he has been rumored to the St. Louis Cardinals, there is another team who could be in the market to trade for him. That team would be the Atlanta Braves. Going to either club could get Arenado into the MLB postseason. However, linking up with the Braves could mean a World Series Championship.

The 29-year-old third baseman has spent his entire big league career in the Rockies organization. He has won a Gold Glove every year he has been in the big leagues. The five-time NL All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger would absolutely satisfy the Braves’ increasingly pressing need to land a power bat from the right side of the plate. Do they have the trade pieces to make this thing work?

If Atlanta trades for Nolan Arenado, it means the Braves want to win it all now

The Braves would have to give up third baseman Austin Riley presumably in a deal for Arenado. They possess similar skill sets with a slick glove and a power bat. However, Arenado is a finished product, while Riley does not hit for average like Arenado typically does. The Braves would also have to give up several of their top prospects as well to get a player of his caliber. Will they do it?

Atlanta may be able to hold onto top prospect Cristian Pache, but you can kiss Drew Waters and Shea Langeliers goodbye. Pache is big-league ready and the expectation is Waters will be by this summer. Langeliers is still about a year out from contributing at the big league level. It would be a bold move for the Braves to pull this trade off, but it means they are serious about winning it all.

The Braves have to make a move here soon to reaffirm their status as World Series contenders.