Arenado Situation Shows Baseball’s Lost Soul

Against all odds, Nolan Arenado was still with the Cardinals when spring training opened.

Speaking for followers of baseball over the last many years, this Nolan Arenado nonsense surrounding the Cardinals is something, isn't it? 

The team entered the off-season publicly declaring a desire to trade Arenado and remake its roster. As weeks went by without any movement, the team was public with its frustration.

Now the Birds on the Bat are in Jupiter, Fla, opening spring training, and Arenado is still around. It’s like inviting Will Smith to a Chris Rock birthday party. A bit awkward, eh?

This is the way of the world now, a baseball world poisoned with obscene amounts of money and superficial values, a world where contract statistics matter at least as much as performance statistics, a world devoid of loyalty or obligation, where emotional bonds between players, teams and cities are unhesitatingly surrendered. A soul-less pastime. 

Traditionally, teams don’t pull up a chair at the off-season table and show their hand. They don’t alert media outlets of their plans to unload a player of Arenado’s stature and/or Arenado’s salary structure. Such an aggressive demeanor suggests something unsatisfactory about the player, something desperate about moving him. Historically, it’s just not a good look.

Usually, trade intentions are kept close to the vest, communicated in organizational meetings or private conversations, strictly KGB.

Imagine Bing Devine announcing a plan to move Orlando Cepeda in 1969, not sure he would have gotten Joe Torre for him. Imagine Doug Armstrong telling reporters he is actively trying to move one of the Blues’ high-profile players. It’s easier to imagine Armstrong singing the national anthem - and God help us should that ever happen.

Fielding unsolicited proposals, embracing motivated partners, pursuing desirable additions - at least publicly - are strategies that seem more promising. The bartering takes place behind closed doors. The trade is built on a partner’s desire to obtain said player, not on a team’s desire to get rid of him (or his salary). Big difference.

Some would call it the “art of the deal,” some would reference “leverage,” and some might just call it common sense. Perhaps now it also should be called “antiquated.” But I’ve lived in St. Louis, my whole life, followed the Cardinals when Julio Gotay was the shortstop, covered baseball for more than 30 years … and I can’t remember this Facebook Marketplace approach to a player transaction. 

To be sure, Arenado had a disappointing 2024, following a slightly-disappointing 2023. From 2015-2022, Arenado averaged .291, 34 home runs, 34 doubles, 107 RBI and landed eight consecutive Gold Gloves. He was considered among the best players in the game, certainly among the best third basemen. 

In ’23, Arenado’s batting average dipped to .266, with 26 HRs, 26 doubles and 93 RBI. A season later (’24), he was at .272, 16 HRs, 23 doubles and 71 RBI. If you want to get geeky with it, additional analytics underline significant drop-offs in bat speed and pull-side power.

Thus, even though Arenado is easily the most legitimate major leaguer remaining in this Cardinals lineup, it has been determined he must go. 

Why, you might ask, which is a question that speaks to the aforementioned soul. Or should we say, what’s left of it.   

For one, Arenado turns 34 in April, and apparently that’s in Albert Pujols years. Editor’s note: see Pujols’ decline at a similar age. 

Arenado might not be the 34-homer, 107-RBI guy of years past. And, as defensive analytics suggest, he might not be the 10-time Gold Glove winner he has been. Especially unsettling to this observer was the fact Arenado’s production did not fluctuate much last summer. He never hit more than four home runs in any month. He batted .271 in April/March and batted .271 in September/October. In between, there were no extremely dramatic shifts. He was consistently unspectacular.  

Ok, so let’s say he is not the same player he has been. But on this roster, isn’t he still a darn good player? 

Consider this, Ken Reitz played third base for the Cardinals during a period from 1973 to 1980. Among the most popular Cardinals in recent history, the “Zamboni” was valued for his defensive skills and admired for his competitive spirit. 

During those eight seasons (one in San Francisco), Reitz averaged .262, 8 HRs, 29 doubles and 64 RBI. His best was 1977, when he batted .261, collected 17 HRs, 36 doubles and 79 RBI - not altogether different from Arenado’s numbers from last season.

As “Skipper” in The Penguins Of Madagascar might put it, Reitz was “a most meaningful and valued member of this team.” 

But where Arenado is concerned, in today’s environment, Cardinals management puts it differently. That is, “What can we do to put you in a brand new third baseman today?”

The perceptual contrast is easily explained. In 1977, Reitz was holding down the hot corner, but he wasn’t anchoring the offense. The batting order had people like Ted Simmons and Keith Hernandez in the middle, and it featured Garry Templeton batting .336 with 18 triples at the top.

For his complementary role, Reitz was paid $85,000. Arenado was paid $33.915 million more than that. 

What’s more, per his contract, Arenado is guaranteed an additional $74 million over the next three seasons, $64 million of that falls to the Cardinals, $10 million to the Colorado Rockies.

From the club’s standpoint, Arenado’s diminished performance - while comparable to Reitz’ best - is not enough to justify such a commitment. And Arenado’s age does not suggest he fits into a roster rehab.

What’s more, the feelings are mutual. Making $34 million to play baseball in St. Louis is fine, but Arenado would prefer to play for a World Series contender, specifically one of the five teams he has waived from a no-trade agreement. While Houston would seem to qualify, the Astros made a couple of moves Arenado didn’t care for, so he blocked a trade with the Astros.

Sorry Curt Flood, timing is everything. This is a different world. 

In December, 1976, when the Cardinals sent pitcher Lynn McGlothen to the Giants for Reitz, they were not considered a contender. They finished 18 games under .500 and fifth In the National League East in the Summer of ’76. They were replacing long-time manager Red Schoendienst with Vern Rapp. 

Nonetheless, “Reitzie,” who made St. Louis his post-career home until he died in March, 2021, was thrilled to return. “I’m happy to be back where ballplayers are liked and appreciated, where it’s fun to play again,” he said at the time. 

When Arenado arrived in Florida last week, he was a placebo. “At the end of the day, I’m a ballplayer,” he said. “I’m a Cardinal until I’m told I’m not.”

Business-like, professional. But not exactly a Mel Allen, “How about that, fans!” response. 

What’s the point, what does it all mean? Not sure, except the situation underlines how baseball has lost its fastball.

A team spends its offseason publicly trying to trade a player it once coveted, an eight-time All-Star, the most credible everyday player on its roster. A player’s excessive contract and a substandard performance make him expendable, even though the performance was otherwise functional, and even though the cupboard behind him is bare. 

For his part, the excessively-compensated player would just as soon go play on a contending team than stay and try to make his existing employer better. All along, he retains Monty Hall status in the deal-making process, determining what is or is not acceptable.  

And as the Cardinals prepare for 2025, ladies and gentleman, Nolan Arenado is your third baseman - not exactly the esprit de corps environment fans look for in spring camp, is it?

Ah well, hope springs eternal … until it doesn’t.