That opt-out is significant, when you consider how the Cardinals view trades. President of baseball operations John Mozeliak has often said a trade package must be built upon the guaranteed years the player who is traded for will be in uniform, not the hope that the player accepts an extension or declines an opt-out. There could be a significant gap between what the Cardinals view as a fair trade for two guaranteed years of Arenado, and what the Rockies view as a fair trade for Arenado’s full contract.

3. The Cardinals in April handed third baseman Matt Carpenter a regrettable extension that pays him a guaranteed $37 million through the 2021 season. Carpenter has to green-light any trade, if the Cardinals were able to find a taker.

4. Despite Carpenter’s career-worst 2019, the Cardinals have taken every opportunity to present him as the starting third baseman entering 2020. Shrug that off as posturing if you please, but this approach is very similar to how the Cardinals handled Dexter Fowler after his career-worst 2018. The Cardinals followed through then.