The Arizona Cardinals were in the news again for all the wrong reasons when the report hit from multiple outlets that safety Budda Baker has requested a trade from the team.
He wanted a contract extension and that was not given so now he he asking to be dealt elsewhere.
It is never a good look for a team when one of their best players does this.
However, recent history shows that he won’t necessarily be traded.
Cornerback Patrick Peterson requested a trade in 2018. That didn’t happen.
Pass rusher Chandler Jones requested a trade. That didn’t happen.
This is a common leverage move players attempt to make with two years remaining on their contracts. They want to accelerate the process of getting a new contract. Teams are often reluctant to do that with more than a year remaining.
Basically, the player says pay me or send me to a team who will pay me.
In Baker’s case, a new contract would be what balances the potential losing for a season or two with what appears to be a rebuild.
This is a big story right now. The NFL draft is in less than two weeks.
This is the window for a trade. If the Cardinals move him, it will happen before the draft or during the draft.
If it doesn’t, expect him to play for Arizona in 2023.
The Cardinals’ last two stars to request a trade were not dealt.
We shouldn’t expect a deal to be imminent or even likely.
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