JUPITER, Fla. — Nolan Arenado, the third baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals, arrived at spring training on Sunday despite the team’s attempts to trade him over the offseason. This eight-time All-Star and ten-time Gold Glove recipient is set to receive $74 million over the next three years.
This year, Colorado will contribute $5 million to St. Louis as part of a previous agreement, which was the last installment of the $51 million the Rockies committed to pay. This agreement aimed to help offset the $199 million remaining in Arenado’s nine-year, $275 million contract that was finalized four years ago. The Cardinals were unable to trade Arenado or negotiate a deal involving his contract, which includes a complete no-trade clause.
Arenado shared that multiple teams were interested in acquiring him during the offseason but noted that he wasn’t willing to uproot his family unless it was a worthwhile opportunity. “I’m not going to talk about who the teams were because it doesn’t really matter anymore, but there was about five teams, five or so,” he explained. “Now that I have a family, the decision to move has to be worth it.” He also mentioned that he doesn’t foresee changing this short list of potential suitors.
Last season, Arenado’s performance fell below expectations, as he batted .272 with 16 home runs and 71 RBIs. John Mozeliak, the president of baseball operations, acknowledged the situation surrounding Arenado, referring to it as “the pink elephant” in the room and anticipated some awkwardness when he showed up for spring training. Arenado made his appearance a day ahead of the position players’ reporting date.
Mozeliak remarked that although they explored potential trade opportunities for Arenado, the player remains an integral part of the team. “We didn’t get to the point where he was no longer a Cardinal, so he’s certainly welcome back,” he stated. “With Nolan on our team, we feel we’re a better team.”
Throughout his career, the 33-year-old Arenado boasts an impressive .285 batting average, alongside 341 home runs and 1,132 RBIs amassed with both the Cardinals and Rockies. His latest All-Star recognition came in 2023. “I’m excited to get to work,” he expressed, emphasizing his focus on preparing for the season.
However, Arenado did voice a desire for the Cardinals to commit fully to the present rather than rebuild for future seasons, which are oriented towards success in 2026 and beyond. The team has notably not signed any major league free agents after experiencing back-to-back playoff misses, following a four-year postseason streak. In a notable offseason change, four-time Gold Glove first baseman Paul Goldschmidt departed to join the New York Yankees.
“Do I wish the direction was all in? Of course,” Arenado said. “But is this what’s probably best for the Cardinals? Probably.”
