In the final moments before the MLB trade deadline, the St. Louis Cardinals made a last-minute move with the Texas Rangers, completing a deal just 68 seconds before the window closed, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Despite the buzzer-beating transaction, one name remained noticeably absent from the trade chatter turned action: Nolan Arenado.
The Cardinals were active sellers throughout the deadline period, clearly looking to build toward the future. They explored the possibility of trading Arenado, their veteran third baseman and eight-time All-Star, to restock their farm system with young talent. However, Arenado once again exercised his no-trade clause, effectively halting any potential deals. This marked the second time in less than a year that former Houston Astros indirectly affected his fate. Boston had been interested in Arenado before signing Alex Bregman in February, and the same happened recently when the Astros acquired Carlos Correa, reportedly another team considering Arenado as a backup option.
At 34 years old and dealing with a nagging shoulder injury, Arenado has seen his production drop this season. Over 96 games, he’s hitting just .235 with a .294 OBP and a .660 OPS, career lows across the board. His 1.1 WAR reflects his struggles, and the Cardinals have now placed him on the 10-day injured list to allow him to rest and recover.
This IL stint will give younger players on the roster a chance to step into bigger roles. It also reflects the team’s broader shift in direction as they begin planning for the future. With a .500 record at 56-56 and sitting in fourth place in the NL Central, St. Louis finds itself 5.5 games out of the final Wild Card spot. Their playoff hopes are quickly fading, and the failure to move Arenado might signal a longer rebuilding phase than fans expected.