The St. Louis Cardinals lineup has had its anchor for years—a steady force at third base who could quiet the harshest storm with one swing of his bat. He was the guy the fans leaned on during those big moments, the one that pitchers feared the most, and the one whose name was stitched into the cleanup spot- always.
However, on Monday night in Detroit, that familiar rhythm stood changed. Nolan Arenado, the eight-time All-Star and one of MLB’s elite third basemen, found himself in a different territory—batting sixth in the order!
But here is the real kicker—this wasn’t some behind-the-door decision made by the front office without his knowledge- it was Arenado’s call itself.
Arenado clarified to John Denton, “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.” And this feels like more than just a lineup tweak; it feels like a personal reset. Because Arenado has been struggling, at least when you compare it to his standards. He is slashing. 241/.316/.371 across 44 games, with just four home runs and 19 RBIs.
Arenado himself didn’t sugarcoat things when asked about his performance. “Just play better. I don’t really have an answer…. 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.” So clearly, he is feeling extremely vulnerable at the moment. And it is understandable because he was once the player who would make 30 homers and 100 RBIs look routine for seven straight seasons. But since 2022, when he finished third in NL MVP voting, Arenado’s numbers have dipped.
From 30 home runs, Nolan Arenado went to 26, then 16, and now just four. He is elite defensively, no doubt, but he has come up empty a few times lately. But the only silver lining right now is that the Cardinals have started to catch fire even without much help from their $260 million man. They have won 12 of their last 14 games! So maybe Arenado stepping back in order is a move to find the fire again. Or maybe he would be traded to some other team – and well, the rumors are swirling for that too.
St. Louis Cardinals could look at ex-Red Sox fireballer
While Arenado figures out his swing, the rest of the Cardinals are picking up the wins. They have very quietly turned their season into something that’s worth watching and are now sitting at 27-21, just a game behind the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. Not bad for a team that many thought would be sellers by June, right? However, now there are some big changes on the horizon for St. Louis.
Chaim Bloom, the former Red Sox architect, is stepping into the role of president of baseball operations this coming off-season. This is probably the beginning of a new era for the Cardinals. But with Bloom in the picture, don’t expect some flashy moves. Instead, if anything, think of calculated and focused decisions. So, not a blockbuster trade but a more low-risk pickup. And this is where the name Daniel Bard comes in.
The 39-year-old reliever has not pitched this season because of his elbow and knee issues. But he has made it clear he does want to make a return when he is healthy. And here is the thing: when healthy, he has been electric. Just two years ago, he posted a 1.79 ERA with the Rockies. Sure, 2023 was rougher with a 4.56 ERA, but the upside is there. Plus, Bard wouldn’t cost much either. So for a bullpen that could use a little more stability, it might be the perfect no-strings-attached move.
What do you think of the Nolan Arenado move, though? Is a comeback possible for him? Let us know in the comments.
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