Though he was due for a rest, Nolan Arenado was in the Cardinals’ starting lineup on Sunday for what could be his last appearance at Busch Stadium. Before the game began, manager Oli Marmol substituted him with Nolan Gorman, giving the six-time Platinum Glove winner a moment to be honored by the St. Louis crowd for his contributions over the past five seasons.
Afterward, Arenado reflected on his tenure with the team.
“Whatever happens, I really enjoyed my time here, and I’m grateful I was traded here,” he said. “I have no regrets about opting in to stay. I love this place, but I know change is needed.”
He praised the fans and the organization, while also acknowledging the team’s shortcomings.
“The fans here have always been incredible. They want winning, competitive baseball, and I wanted to deliver that for them. I wish we could have done better the past few years. That’s why I came here — because of how much they love the game.”
Although Arenado’s arrival brought high expectations, the partnership never produced the postseason success either side envisioned. He thrived early, including a third-place MVP finish in 2022, but both his performance and the team’s fortunes have since dipped.
The Cardinals failed to advance past the Wild Card in 2021 and 2022, with their best opportunity coming in 2022 when Paul Goldschmidt captured MVP and Arenado finished third.
With St. Louis leaning toward a youth movement, Arenado appears likely to be moved this offseason. Regardless of what comes next, he departs as one of the game’s elite: a 10-time All-Star, six-time Platinum Glove winner, 10-time Gold Glove winner, and five-time Silver Slugger.
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