Is Nolan Arenado’s Time in St. Louis Coming to an End?
When the Colorado Rockies traded Nolan Arenado to St. Louis, it seemed like the star third baseman had a permanent home with the Cardinals. Now, it appears Arenado could be on the move once more because the Cardinals are horrendous this season.
The Cardinals sit at 38-52 through the All-Star break and last place in the NL Central. Arenado is fully aware of his team’s underperformance, and knows that MLB is nothing more than a business.
“It is a business, right?” Arenado said in the New York Post. “I’ve been traded once. I think that shocked a lot of people at that time. I guess it doesn’t surprise me anymore what happens in this game. It would still be surprising seeing some things happen. But I understand there are certain things that probably should.”
Quote via Jon Heyman, New York Post
We’ve rarely seen the Cardinals sell, and Arenado has committed to the Cardinals financially and personally. In 2022, he declined to opt out of his deal with the Cardinals despite many believing he would leave.
After an incredible season last year, Arenado is once again producing big in 2023. In 86 games so far, he’s batting .283/.332/.518 with 19 homers and 62 RBIs. He’s on track to win his 11th consecutive Gold Glove, which would put him five short of Brook Robinson‘s 16 Gold Gloves, most by a third baseman.
It’s more likely the Cardinals will trade off players in contract years, such as Jordan Montgomery, Jack Flaherty and Jordan Hicks. When you’re in last place in the NL Central though, it may be time to tear it down. I mean come on, the Pittsburgh Pirates are performing better than the Cardinals.
It isn’t Arenado’s fault the Cardinals are crumbling, which is why you can only hope he gets out of it. While he isn’t getting any younger, the Rockies are still paying some of his contracts for the next three years. Teams like the Yankees, Dodgers and Twins all could use a third baseman, and have the farm systems to do it.
The trade deadline is Aug. 1, and it still seems unlikely Arenado will be on the move. We’ve seen crazy things around the deadline, so Cardinal fans will be sh***ing their pants for the next few weeks.
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