The St. Louis Cardinals are heading into a major transition year after the 2025 MLB season comes to a close. With John Mozeliak stepping down and Chaim Bloom taking over, there's going to be a lot of changes in the offseason.
There will likely be a few veterans traded away, as the team heads into a mini-rebuild. But one of the more noteworthy players to follow is third baseman Nolan Arenado.
During the Cardinals' final home game this season, Arenado was taken out of the game at the beginning, allowing Cardinals fans to give him an ovation as he left the field. It was a move that, as John Denton of MLB.com points out, hints at a big decision coming this offseason.
Cardinals' Nolan Arenado decision hints at big roster move in the offseason
Pulling Arenado from the game to receive an ovation from Cardinals fans in the team's final home game of the 2025 MLB season strongly indicates that this was Arenado's final time playing in front of Cardinals fans as a member of the team.
"Clearly," Denton writes. "The #STLCards have every intention of trying to trade Arenado in the offseason. The ceremonial start and removal seem to indicate that today is Arenado's last game at Busch Stadium in a Cardinals uniform. He is still owed $42 million over the next two years."
Clearly, the #STLCards have every intention of trying to trade Arenado in the offseason. The ceremonial start and removal seems to indicate that today is Arenado's last game at Busch Stadium in a Cardinals uniform. He is still owed $42 million over the next two years. https://t.co/Dt1H9KGM0z
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) September 21, 2025
If the Cardinals were planning on bringing Arenado back, then the team wouldn't have done any ceremonial benching before the game. It's a tell-tale sign that this moment is an important one, and likely, Arenado's final time in a Cardinals uniform at home.
While there's still a chance that the Cardinals don't make this move, whether the options on the trade block are limited or Arenado invokes his no-trade clause, a trade is much more likely now than it's ever been.
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With the team looking to shed some money and begin rebuilding with a new core, an Arenado trade makes a lot of sense. As Denton pointed out, the Gold Glove third baseman is owed $42 million over the 2026 and 2027 seasons. Instead of taking on that contract, moving him to a contender looking for a new third baseman makes a lot of sense.
A return might not be very strong, as Arenado struggled this season (.236 average with a .656 OPS). But, with his prestige as an elite defender and his history as a good hitter, a team could take a chance on him this offseason.
There are a few players on the Cardinals who could be dealt this winter, and none is more expected, especially after the ceremonial benching, than Nolan Arenado. This decision from the Cardinals hints at their plans this offseason, as Arenado is very likely to be on a new team in 2026 after five years in St. Louis.
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