Nolan Arenado has been a focal point for St. Louis Cardinals fans this offseason, and that sentiment is shared by President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak. In a candid moment, Mozeliak openly admitted that his biggest concern in potentially trading Arenado would be seeing him regain top form with another team.
“I can candidly say of all the trade conversations I’ve been in, (an Arenado bounce-back year) is what scares me the most. I think great players have that extra gear and when they find it, they’re special.”
Nolan Arenado’s potential success with another team looks to be keeping Mozeliak up at night.
John Mozeliak has been unusually candid as he heads into his final season overseeing the Cardinals’ roster, but his admission of fear regarding a potential Nolan Arenado trade speaks volumes about the organization’s reluctance to move on from key players at the right time.
The sting of Randy Arozarena’s breakout success after leaving St. Louis has seemingly left lasting scars on Mozeliak, who has since acknowledged that trade as a mistake.
In response, the Cardinals have become overly cautious, often holding onto players too long rather than capitalizing on their peak value. Dylan Carlson is a prime example—once deemed untouchable by Mozeliak, he was eventually dealt to the Rays for just 11 games of reliever Shawn Armstrong.
On the surface, Mozeliak’s approach seems counterproductive. A front-office leader must be decisive, not hesitant, especially when a move like trading Arenado could pave the way for the next generation of Cardinals stars.
However, it’s also possible that Mozeliak’s comments are a strategic play. By openly expressing hesitation about trading Arenado, he could be attempting to increase his leverage in potential trade discussions, ensuring the Cardinals receive maximum value if a deal does happen. Whether it’s genuine fear or calculated posturing remains to be seen.
“I would not bet against him; I’d bet on him. And I was afraid someone else was going to get that if we traded him. He’s a special player and he can still do things that many can’t.”
Mozeliak is fully aware that he lacks leverage in any potential Nolan Arenado trade, and his recent comments could be an attempt at reverse psychology. By publicly propping up Arenado’s abilities and downplaying the urgency to trade him, he may be trying to stir up interest from other teams and drive up the asking price.
Another possibility is that Mozeliak genuinely wants to keep Arenado in an effort to preserve what’s left of his legacy with the Cardinals.
Ownership may be pushing for a trade to clear payroll, but Mozeliak, in his final season at the helm, might not want his last major move to be shipping off a franchise cornerstone. With nothing to lose, he could be resisting pressure from above to make one last stand.
For fans, Mozeliak’s hesitance is understandably frustrating. The Cardinals’ indecisiveness in recent years has often led to diminishing returns on player moves, and if his fear of an Arenado resurgence elsewhere has slowed trade talks, criticism is warranted.
However, it’s also possible that this is just another strategic smokescreen, a last-minute play to put the Cardinals in a stronger position should they ultimately decide to part ways with Arenado.
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