Potential farewell performance for Nolan Arenado with the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals' Nolan Arenado Faces Uncertain Future Amid Injury and Trade Speculation
The future of Nolan Arenado with the St. Louis Cardinals is shrouded in uncertainty, as the team enters a rebuild phase and the veteran third baseman grapples with a decline in offensive production and a shoulder injury[1][4].
Arenado's offensive performance this season has been below league average, with a .235 batting average, 10 home runs, and 43 RBIs by early August[1][4]. Defensively, he remains a strong presence at third base, but the Cardinals are reportedly looking to clear roster spots for younger players like Nolan Gorman and J.J. Wetherholt[1][3].
Trade talks were significant last offseason but stalled due to Arenado’s no-trade clause, which allows him to veto potential deals. Given his current struggles and high salary, trade interest is reportedly low, and some insiders suggest the Cardinals might need to absorb most or all of his remaining contract money to facilitate a trade or even consider releasing him[2][3].
Arenado's shoulder injury, which caused him to miss time in July, may cause him to miss a significant amount of time this season[2]. In response, the team has activated Nolan Gorman to replace Arenado on the roster[3]. The Cardinals did not provide a timetable for Arenado's return[2].
The Cardinals were hoping to trade Arenado at the deadline, but were unsuccessful[1][5]. Arenado has two years and $42 million remaining on his contract beyond this season, with $5 million paid by the Colorado Rockies[6]. His poor offensive performance this year has resulted in a 0.8 fWAR on the season[7].
The situation echoes the quote from The Dark Knight, "You either move on as a franchise icon or you stick around long enough that fans have a hard time remembering the good old days," as Arenado struggles to find his footing amidst the team's rebuild[8].
Meanwhile, John Mozeliak's tenure as a Cardinals executive is coming to a close[9]. With the team focusing on youth and rebuilding, the future of the franchise is taking a new direction.
As Arenado navigates his injury and potential trade, fans and the team alike will be watching closely to see what the future holds for the veteran third baseman.
- If Arenado had been traded, it is unlikely he would be on the injured list.
- Ryan Fernandez, Andre Granillo, and Roddery Munoz will take over the roster spots previously held by Ryan Helsley, Phil Maton, and Steven Matz.
- The Cardinals did not provide a timetable for Nolan Arenado's return.
- Fans have a hard time remembering the good old days with John Mozeliak's tenure ending.
- Through 96 games this year, Arenado slashed .235/.294/.366 with 10 home runs and 43 RBI.
- The quote "You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain" from The Dark Knight is one of the more memorable movie quotes of our time.
- The quote "You either move on as a franchise icon or you stick around long enough that fans have a hard time remembering the good old days" is a variant of a line from The Dark Knight and describes the situation of Nolan Arenado and the Cardinals.
[1] The Athletic [2] MLB Trade Rumors [3] St. Louis Post-Dispatch [4] ESPN [5] Sports Illustrated [6] MLB Trade Rumors [7] Fangraphs [8] CBS Sports [9] St. Louis Post-Dispatch
If Arenado had been traded, he wouldn't be on the injured list, and Ryan Fernandez, Andre Granillo, and Roddery Munoz might take over the roster spots previously held by Ryan Helsley, Phil Maton, and Steven Matz. Due to his current struggles and high salary, trade interest in Arenado is reportedly low, and with the Cardinals focusing on youth and the potential absorption of his remaining contract money, it remains uncertain if he will continue his career with the team.
