Possibly, simply possibly, the St. Louis Cardinals did not precisely win the Nolan Arenado commerce with the Colorado Rockies. Maybe, figuring out what we all know now, the deal was a loss for each groups.
Now 4 years faraway from the blockbuster deal that despatched Arenado from the Mile Excessive Metropolis to the Gateway Arch, St. Louis finds itself desperately making an attempt to unload the 10-time Gold Glove winner, a scenario the franchise has been in all offseason.
That potential commerce has hamstrung the Cardinals all winter, and now, there’s a very actual prospect that St. Louis could have Arenado in its Opening Day lineup in one of the vital awkward begins to spring since Arenado walked into the Rockies clubhouse in 2020 after saying he felt “disrespect” from members of the group due to the franchise’s course.
Round one 12 months after these feedback, Arenado was on his method to St. Louis in a deal that netted the Rockies 5 gamers, together with beginning pitcher Austin Gomber, the one a part of the return nonetheless with the franchise.
Transferring Arenado value the Rockies not solely greater than $50M of the All-Star’s wage, but additionally loads inside its personal fan base. A face of the franchise, Arenado’s loss alienated lots of Colorado’s followers and continues to be a sore topic to debate round Coors Subject.
Sure, the commerce brought about loads of damage in Denver. As time has gone on, nevertheless, the ache related to it has moved throughout Interstate 70 to St. Louis as properly.
Merely put, the commerce that was imagined to be a key to St. Louis getting again to the World Collection for the primary time since 2013 has been an utter disappointment for the Cardinals. With Arenado, the Cardinals have reached the postseason twice (2021 and 2022) and by no means superior previous the wild-card spherical, getting swept each occasions.
In these two seasons, Arenado carried out properly, together with a tie with eventual NL Most Invaluable Participant (and teammate) Paul Goldschmidt on the high of the league’s bWAR record at 7.7 in 2022. Arenado would end third within the MVP vote, tying for his highest placement in his now-12-year profession.
Nevertheless, the final two seasons, because the Cardinals have missed the postseason, Arenado has seen his numbers decline as properly, posting 4.9 bWAR mixed within the two campaigns.
These two seasons, in addition to Arenado’s no-trade clause that he has already reportedly used as soon as this offseason, have positioned the Cardinals in an unenviable place of getting caught in impartial. Whereas St. Louis president of baseball operations John Mozeliak is asking for “persistence” because the franchise nonetheless tries to unload Arenado, the choices for sending him elsewhere dwindled once more with the Boston Purple Sox signing third baseman Alex Bregman to a deal earlier within the week.
And historical past may properly repeat itself because it now could be the Cardinals who reportedly must ship tens of millions together with Arenado simply to get a deal executed.
Realizing all of this, in hindsight, was the commerce as unhealthy for the Rockies as first famous? Definitely it was not at all a win for Colorado, and the franchise has floundered since Arenado’s departure, together with back-to-back 100-loss seasons. Nevertheless, it may very well be argued that even Arenado’s presence in these previous 4 years couldn’t have morphed Colorado right into a postseason contender in an NL West that’s stacked with expertise.
Sure, the Rockies misplaced the Arenado commerce. Nevertheless, it now appears that the Cardinals did not fare significantly better as they appear to maneuver on from Arenado and a irritating 4 years.
