Cardinals Officially Acquire Nolan Arenado

Word of the deal surfaced on Friday evening, and we spent the weekend (and the majority of the day Monday) talking about the reported trade. Now, the news St. Louis has been buzzing about is official: the Cardinals have acquired five-time All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado from the Rockies.

Arenado’s contract with St. Louis reportedly includes opt-outs after the 2022 and 2023 seasons and a one-year extension of the contract, through 2027, which would be his age-36 season.

What to expect from Nolan Arenado offensively?

The final deal sends Arenado and roughly $50 million to St. Louis for a package of LHP Austin Gomber, RHP Tony Locey, RHP Jake Sommers, INF Elehuris Montero, and SS Mateo Gil to Colorado. Gomber was reported on Friday night as being a piece of the deal, but the other four players were not. Montero was St. Louis’s eighth-ranked prospect, according to MLB.com. Locey ranked 19th on that list, with Gil at 22nd, while Sommers was not ranked in the Top 30. Gomber is the only player of the five going to Colorado who has Major League experience. Gomber was likely to compete for a starting rotation spot this spring. Now, that competitions shifts more toward John Gant, Daniel Ponce de Leon, and Carlos Martinez.

The return package going back to Colorado is definitely better than what leaked on Friday night, but this deal is widely considered to be a ‘win’ for St. Louis — and rightfully so. Arenado is a eight-time Gold Glove Award winner, tying him with Scott Rolen (!!) for the third-most Gold Gloves by a third baseman all-time. Arenado has also won four Platinum Glove Awards, given to the best overall defender in each league. Arenado’s 2020 season was limited to just over 200 plate appearances, as he dealt with soreness in his left shoulder. The year before, in 2019, Arenado slashed .315/.379/.583 with 41 home runs. Arenado has lead the league in homers three times in the last six seasons.