LOCKED IN: Nolan Arenado has resigned officially with the St Louis Cardinals on a four year deal making him a Cardinals till the end of 2029…
The St. Louis Cardinals have explored trading Nolan Arenado this offseason, but the third baseman remains with the team. With the MLB regular season just three weeks away, Arenado is preparing for 2025.
Arenado has been with the Cardinals since they acquired him from the Colorado Rockies in February 2021. Over four seasons in St. Louis, he has accumulated 16.6 WAR in 601 games.
The California native has a .271 batting average with 372 RBIs in his time with the Cardinals. With 341 career home runs, Arenado is an eight-time All-Star, a four-time top-five finisher in the NL MVP race, and a 10-time Gold Glove winner.
“My expectation is to be here on Opening Day,” Arenado said, according to Jon Heyman of the NY Post. “Unless I’m told otherwise, I’ll stay locked in and adjust if needed.”
The Cardinals find themselves in an unusual position as they enter a rebuilding phase, and Arenado doesn’t necessarily fit into the team’s plans for this season.
With a focus on giving more playing time to younger, less experienced players, Arenado’s role at third base could prevent others like Nolan Gorman, Brendan Donovan, and Thomas Saggese from getting a shot at the position. Instead, Gorman will play second base, pushing Donovan to left field, and Saggese might not make the roster.
However, having a player like Arenado, with his proven track record, remains a valuable asset for the Cardinals. His veteran presence on the field will be beneficial.
The Cardinals will begin the 2025 season on March 27 against the Minnesota Twins.