The St. Louis Cardinals came into the season as a team not expected to compete for a playoff berth. However, they have gotten off to a decent start and are within striking distance of first place in the NL Central. With a record of 19-19, they are 3.0 games out of first and playing good baseball.
During the offseason, many thought the Cardinals would be looking to trade third baseman Nolan Arenado. His contract has him under club control through the 2027 season, and he could be an excellent piece for a team looking to compete now.
Arenado’s Absence Raises Questions
Arenado was scheduled to be in the lineup for the Cardinals’ Wednesday game, but was scratched due to back spasms. Some thought his being scratched could lead to a trade in the works. But that does not appear to be the case.
Nolan Arenado was scratched due to back spasms, per #stlcards official. https://t.co/u7pc1sZVcN
— Derrick Goold (@dgoold) May 7, 2025
Even with the Cardinals having a good first month of the season, they will still likely be sellers before the trade deadline. Arenado is no longer the player he once was in his Colorado days, but he is still a good defender and a threat at the plate. So far this season, Arenado is hitting .256 with three home runs and 14 RBIs. While he is not slugging much, he is getting on base with 16 walks to only 14 strikeouts.
Cardinals Might be Ready to Rebuild
One thing about the St. Louis Cardinals’ history is that they have always been a team looking to remain in contention. But after missing the postseason in 2023 and 2024, the Cardinals may be content with starting a rebuild. Outside of Arenado, the Cardinals could also look to move closer Ryan Helsley. He is one of the best closers in baseball and would be a hot commodity on the trade market.
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The Cardinals have plenty of young players on their MLB roster. They have a few players under 29 who are having great seasons. One is Brendan Donovan, who has been one of the best hitters in baseball to begin the year. He is hitting .331 with three home runs and 19 RBIs. Also, he is carrying an OPS of .854 into May.
Lars Nootbaar, Victor Scott, and Masyn Winn are some other players who have performed well. Each is a player the Cardinals can build around, which should give them some hope for the future. No matter what they decided to do with Arenado and some of their other veterans, the Cardinals should at least remain interesting thanks to their young talent.