The St. Louis Cardinals Have a Nolan Arenado Problem They Can No Longer Ignore
The St. Louis Cardinals have been one of the early surprises of the 2025 MLB season. Despite the Chicago Cubs’ hot start, the Cardinals remain within striking distance—just three games behind in the NL Central and four games above .500 at the time of writing.
Their roster features an exciting mix of rising young talent and experienced veterans like Miles Mikolas, Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras, and Nolan Arenado. But while the team is trending upward, Arenado’s performance has been heading in the opposite direction—making him a growing concern for the front office.
Arenado has simply not lived up to expectations in 2025. His slash line of .242/.295/.400 and a .695 OPS reflects a sharp decline in offensive production, particularly in the power department. Once a feared slugger and MVP candidate, Arenado’s bat has gone quiet—too quiet for a player occupying a key role in the lineup.
It’s no secret the Cardinals have tried to move on from him. President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak, alongside newly hired Chaim Bloom, has actively explored trade scenarios involving Arenado. At one point, the team had a deal in place with the Houston Astros, but the third baseman used his full no-trade clause to block it.
Other suitors like the red-hot Detroit Tigers showed interest but weren’t on the short list of teams Arenado would consider joining. Both the Yankees and Red Sox, who once explored adding him, have since moved on to other options.
Nolan Arenado
Now, with Arenado’s trade value diminishing by the day, frustration is growing. The team recently dropped him down in the batting order in response to his prolonged slump. And while Arenado continues to be a reliable presence on defense, his offensive struggles have raised serious concerns—not just among fans and analysts, but with Arenado himself.
“We switched the lineup [because] the guys are playing well in front of me, and the guys who were hitting behind me, they should move up in front of me,” Arenado said, candidly acknowledging his underperformance.
The 34-year-old, known for holding himself to an elite standard, sounded deflated when asked if he could bounce back:
“I don’t really have an answer. Just play better, play more the way I think I’m capable of,” he said. “But it’s been a minute since I’ve felt like I could play the way I should. So I don’t know if it’s coming back or not.”
Those aren’t the words Cardinals fans—or the front office—wanted to hear. It’s becoming clear that St. Louis’ attempt to trade Arenado wasn’t just a strategic move, but a necessary one. As the season progresses, the clock is ticking for the Cardinals to either reignite Arenado’s bat—or cut ties before his value vanishes entirely.
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