The Astros have rekindled interest in trading Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado to MLB.com Saturday, according to multiple sources on Saturday.

Nolan Arenado, who had vetoed a trade to the Astros last December, may now be willing to waive his non-tradable clause to join a Houston team that has since signed Christian Walker as first baseman — a move that had not yet happened when Nolan Arenado vetoed the deal, showing the Astros' plans to move forward as contenders.

In December, the Cardinals were willing to pay the Astros between $15 million and $20 million in a deal to help share Nolan Arenado's salary, sources said. The eight-time All-Star will earn $74 million over the next three years, although Rocky is responsible for $10 million as part of their 2021 deal with the Cardinals, and $12 million in his contract is being delayed, leaving the present value of what he currently owes to about $60 million. The money the Cardinals are willing to include would bring the Astros' commitment down to about $40 million to $45 million over the next three years.

The Astros saved $8.5 million by trading Kyle Tucker to the Cubs in January to cut wages to meet the competitive equalization tax (CBT) threshold, but the club is willing to go beyond that threshold to acquire a player of Nolan Arenado's calibre.

The Yankees also expressed interest in Nolan Arenado sometime this offseason, but plan to fill their three-base void with a combination of DJ LeMahieu, Oswaldo Cabrera and Oswald Peraza. The Yankees' interest in Nolan Arenado could be rekindled based on the trio's performance this spring, but for now, sources say the Yankees aren't pursuing Nolan Arenado.

According to a source, part of the reason Nolan Arenado's reluctance to come to Houston in December was that the Astros had just traded Kyle Tucker to the Cubs, but the addition of Christian Walker suggests that Houston is still looking for a win. The Astros lost third baseman Alex Bregman to the Red Sox in free agency, which also helped Nolan Arenado clarify his market.

"I have a lot of goals and I really feel like I can achieve them," Nolan Arenado said Friday. "I thought about [the Hall of Fame] and I would love to make it happen. But just like the thing of trading, when I started thinking about it, I reminded myself that I needed to get back to work. ”

The Astros could put Nolan Arenado as third baseman and move Isaac Paredes — one of the three from the Kyle Tucker trade — to second base. The Astros moved Jose Altuve, who has been second baseman since 2011, to left fielder this season.

With the contract full of non-tradable clauses, Nolan Arenado will make the final decision on where he goes – or whether to leave – but sources say he is expected to be traded before the opening day.

Trading Nolan Arenado will help the Cardinals stick to their original plan of clearing salaries and fully pivoting their focus to their young core. When they failed to trade Nolan Arenado in the offseason, they had to deviate from those plans and welcome Nolan Arenado to spring training.

Trading Nolan Arenado would allow the Cardinals to move left-hit heavy Nolan Gorman from second base back to third base and potentially provide playing time for minor league standout Thomas Saggese. The move would also give Golden Glove winner Brendan Donovan a second baseman and ease a crowded outfield that includes Jordan Walker, Lars Nootbaar, Michael Siani and Victor Scott II.

John Mozeliak, the Cardinals' president of baseball operations, said last week that every time he considered a trade for Nolan Arenado in the offseason, he was concerned about a rebound season for one of the team's most motivated players.

"When we think about [resetting the lineup], if he's Nolan...... And if he's happy, he'll make us better," he said. "I like that he seems motivated to be good. I can honestly say that of all the trading conversations I've been involved in, [Nolan Arenado's rally year] scares me the most. I think great players have that extra drive and when they find it, they're special. ”

"I'm not going to bet on him to lose; I'll bet on him to win. I'm scared that if we trade him, someone else will get that. He's a special player and he can still do things that many other people can't. ”

Nolan Arenado, who deliberately distracted himself from trade rumors by dedicating himself to training in the offseason, was greeted with enthusiastic cheers from mostly Cardinals fans before his first bat at Roger Dean Stadium on Saturday. He was substituted after hitting 1-of-2 in the game and was replaced by a substitute runner. Nolan Arenado told MLB.com after Saturday's game that he has not yet discussed any potential deals with his representatives.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol praised the 33-year-old Nolan Arenado's focus in training camp and how he refused to let trade rumors get in the way.

"I think 'very good' would be a huge underestimate," Oliver Marmol said of the focus of the ten-time Golden Glove winner. "He was as professional as he could. He put everything into preparing himself to be the best player and help us get to where we need to be. Without any distractions, he is focused here and maximizing his talents. ”

"He's in a really good shape."

John Mozeliak declined to comment on trade talks with the Astros. He also declined to speculate on whether it was possible for Nolan Arenado to change his mind this time and accept a trade to the Astros.