The St. Louis Cardinals made a major splash on Tuesday — but it can’t be the last move they make.

St. Louis finally backed up its offseason promises. Earlier in the winter, reports suggested the Cardinals were open to absorbing salary in potential trades. On Tuesday, they proved it, reportedly sending $20 million to the Boston Red Sox along with Sonny Gray in exchange for left-hander Brandon Clarke and right-hander Richard Fitts.

Now, all eyes shift to third baseman Nolan Arenado. He has two seasons remaining on his eight-year, $260 million contract and is still owed $42 million. After an underwhelming year, it’s clear the Cardinals will likely need to cover a portion of that money—and Tuesday’s move shows they’re willing to do exactly that to move veteran players.

“I asked Bloom directly during his introductory press conference whether they’d consider releasing Arenado, and he firmly said they wouldn’t,” Jones wrote on X.

Even if a release isn’t an option, trading Arenado should be the next logical step for St. Louis — and the sooner, the better. With Gray off the books, the Cardinals now have a clearer picture of their 2026 payroll and more room to elevate younger talent. Moving Arenado quickly would give Bloom and the front office valuable flexibility heading into the Winter Meetings.

Without Gray and Arenado on the roster, Bloom and his staff would finally have a clean view of their financial landscape — and a better understanding of where investments are needed throughout the organization.