The St. Louis Cardinals are ready to making big changes following a dismal season, which may include moving on from their most visible player.
According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals will evaluate league interest in third baseman Nolan Arenado. Arenado’s contract includes a no-trade provision, so the Cardinals would need his agreement before making any trades. Their goal is to gather enough information to present him with his options over the next few weeks.
One difficulty is Arenado’s contract. The 33-year-old has three years left on his current contract, plus deferred money from the Colorado Rockies.
Arenado is an eight-time All-Star and has long been regarded as one of baseball’s top third basemen. However, his offensive numbers declined in 2024, with 16 home runs, his lowest full-season total since he was a rookie. He still batted.272, but the loss of power must be a problem.
The Cardinals are coming off a disappointing 83-79 season and appear to be making some major adjustments. Moving on from Arenado and becoming younger may indicate their aspirations for 2025.
