Cardinals’ Nolan Arenado Regains His Stride After Unsettled Offseason

Nolan Arenado is almost certainly a future Hall of Fame but no player in baseball might have had more questions surrounding him when spring training began.

The St. Louis Cardinals third baseman had his worst offensive season in 2024 since his rookie year with the Colorado Rockies in 2013. Arenado hit .272/.325/.394 with 16 home runs in 152 games.

Arenado also failed to win a Gold Glove for a second straight season after being the defensive standard bearer among National League third baseman throughout the first 10 years of his career.

It was fair to wonder if Arenado, who turned 34 on April 11, was entering the twilight of his career. Then there was the question of what Arenado’s attitude would be like when he arrived at the Cardinals’ camp in Jupiter, Fla.

Unhappy that the Cardinals were going into a self-described “reset” and planned to give opportunities to younger players, Arenado asked to be traded. Arenado was also disappointed that the Cardinals allowed first baseman Paul Goldschmidt to leave for the New York Yankees as a free agent without making a contract offer.

The Cardinals signed just one major-league free agent in the offseason, journeyman relief pitcher Phil Maton.

Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak reached a deal with the Houston Astros involving Arenado in December. However, the eight-time All-Star used his no-trade clause to veto the deal.

Nolan Arenado Having Rebound Season

The questions surrounding Arenado have dissipated, though. He is hitting .266/.367/.447 with eight doubles, three homers and 14 walks in 25 games.

Arenado is also flashing Gold Glove form again.

“You’re seeing the Nolan that we would expect at third base,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “He’s made some really nice plays to start the year.”

It is Arenado’s all-round game that has the Cardinals pleased. He has again become an important cog in the lineup and his sixth career walk-off home run on Saturday lifted the Cardinals to a 6-5 victory over the visiting Milwaukee Brewers at Busch Stadium.

“Hall of Famer for a reason, and he’s one of the best at it on both sides of the baseball,” Marmol said. “He’s going to continue to show that he’s determined to (be great).”

Arenado has certainly built a strong resume to be inducted in Cooperstown. He also looks rejuvenated after his subpar 2024 season and unsettled winter.

Arenado has been in good spirits since arriving in spring training.

“I just feel like I still have a lot left in me in this game, and sooner or later I’m going to be done playing and I just want to keep going because I feel like I can do a lot of great things,” Arenado said. “That’s what I’m still chasing. When I feel like I can’t, I probably just won’t play more, but I feel like I still can. I’m still trying to get comfortable and fix some things, but I’m still chasing that.”

Arenado is in fifth year with the Cardinals after asking the Rockies to trade him following the 2020 season because he questioned their commitment to winning.

Colorado hasn’t been to the postseason since 2018 and is off to a dismal 4-22 start this season.

Nolan Arenado Could Again Be Trade Bait

The Cardinals, though, have missed the postseason each of the last two years and don’t have the look of contenders with their 12-15 record. While St. Louis is seventh in MLB with a 4.73 runs a game, the pitching staff’s 4.26 ERA is 20th.

The lack of quality pitching has a lot to do with the Cardinals being just 12-15 through the first month of the season.

Arenado seems like a prime trade candidate between now and the July 31 deadline. The Cardinals could use some younger pitchers with upside, and they have a ready-made replacement at third base in Nolan Gorman, who hit 27 home runs in 2023.

Arenado has three years and $74 million remaining on his nine-year, $275-million contract. Though the Rockies are paying $10 million, the Cardinals would almost certainly have to include money to facilitate a trade.

With the way Arenado is playing, he could provide a boost to a team in a pennant race. His feet are with the Cardinals, though, at least for now.

“Mentally, I feel like I’m in a stronger place and I’m focusing on doing my job and helping this team win,” Nolan Arenado told reporters after Saturday’s game. “I’m blocking out the uncontrollables, I guess.”