Nolan Arenado is urging the Cardinals to make a surprising offseason move

For the second consecutive offseason, Nolan Arenado finds himself at the center of trade speculation. Last year, he was widely regarded as the most likely Cardinal to be traded. After he rejected a move to the Houston Astros, many assumed it was only a matter of time before a deal would be finalized. Now, the eight-time All-Star has become a significant challenge for St. Louis.

At 34 years old, Arenado is once again drawing attention in Major League Baseball circles. Industry insiders are openly questioning whether it might be time for the Cardinals to part ways with him. On the latest edition of MLB Network Radios The Front Office, former general manager Jim Bowden was candid: I love Arenado, I love the person, but its over. Bowden highlighted a three-year decline that has left Arenados performance and contract misaligned. Co-host Jim Duquette added that rival teams are aware St. Louis may need to move on, and many are hesitant to offer assets for a player in this situation.

Arenado is owed $32 million over the next two seasons by the Cardinals, separate from remaining payments from the Colorado Rockies. He opted to stay under his contract after 2022, a deal that initially seemed favorable but has become one of the franchises more burdensome long-term commitments. His on-field performance has steadily declined since his MVP-level 2022 season, producing only league-average numbers in 2023 and 2024. In 2025, his stats included a .237 batting average, .289 on-base percentage, .377 slugging percentage, 12 home runs, and a .666 OPS over 107 games the weakest full season of his career.

Advanced metrics indicate ongoing struggles. Arenados average exit velocity in 2025 dropped to 86.8 mph, with a hard-hit rate near 32 percent and a barrel rate under 4 percent. These figures suggest more than a temporary slump, pointing instead to the natural decline associated with aging. Shoulder issues and recurring back soreness affected him in both 2024 and 2025, and his power numbers have not returned to his Colorado or early St. Louis form. Scouts now view him as an average regular with diminishing influence, rather than the elite All-Star who dominated third base for a decade.

For Chaim Bloom, the Cardinals new head of baseball operations, Arenados contract is both a roster and financial challenge. After trading Sonny Gray as part of a wider team reset, Bloom faces the task of incorporating younger talent into the lineup. Bowden emphasized that Arenado should not block opportunities for emerging players: You cant let him take away at-bats from younger players.

With a full no-trade clause limiting market options, the Cardinals may consider absorbing the remaining contract to allow Arenado to pursue free agency without constraints. Duquette noted, however, that the team is likely to give him a chance during spring training. If his performance continues to decline, cutting ties may become the most practical solution for the franchise.

Author: Sophia Brooks