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Nolan Arenado has been enjoying a bounceback season of sorts for the St. Louis Cardinals after having a bit of a down year in 2024. The 8-time All-Star has been solid for a St. Louis team that finds themselves in the hunt for a postseason spot despite a belief that they could be willing to part with some of their veteran stars.
While Nolan Arenado has been a focal point of the offense, he was a last-minute scratch for the team ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals' division matchup against the Pittsburgh Pirates. At 34 years old, it's not surprising to see a veteran such as Arenado need time off, given the 162 grind of a Major League Baseball season.
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According to the St. Louis Cardinals, Arenado was a last-minute scratch from the lineup because he was suffering from back spasms. The decision seemingly came out of nowhere, however, the move forced the Cardinals to reshuffle their lineup and have former top prospect Nolan Gorman man third base for the club on Wednesday.
Nolan Arenado has been rather durable yet again this season, appearing in 34 of the Cardinals' 37 games. Through those games, Arenado has posted a .256 batting average with 3 home runs, 14 RBI, and a .738 OPS. While those numbers are still a far cry from the ones he posted during his prime with the Colorado Rockies, he still remains an important piece for the Cardinals this season.
Nolan Arenado remains one of the top names mentioned in trade rumors this season
Arenado has two years remaining on his contract after 2025, which is one of the reasons why some analysts believe that his time with the St. Louis Cardinals could be nearing an end. St. Louis has been looking to usher in a new era of baseball, moving on from veteran superstars such as Paul Goldschmidt in recent years.
According to various reports, Nolan Arenado has drawn interest from a number of clubs this offseason, including the Houston Astros and New York Yankees. This past offseason, Arenado reportedly used his full no-trade clause to veto a potential deal to the Astros, so it will be interesting to see how things could play out as the trade deadline approaches.
Arenado might no longer be a perennial All-Star at the plate, but he is still one of the best defenders in baseball, while still being able to contribute on offense. The fact that the New York Yankees still need help at third base could keep the door open for a potential deal at some point this season.
