It is one factor for the St. Louis Cardinals to speak about the potential for buying and selling Nolan Arenado because the franchise continues to reshape itself. It is fully one other to consider one of many best third basemen in Main League Baseball historical past shifting throughout the diamond and manning first base as a substitute.
Sure, each situations are apparently in play for St. Louis and Arenado, per reporting from The Athletic. Arenado is reportedly not solely open to waiving his no-trade clause (if the Cardinals can discover the proper associate in a crew that will assist Arenado lastly earn a World Sequence ring), but in addition reportedly shifting to first base if that was what was wanted to make all the items fall into place.
It’s a gorgeous shift from the mindset that despatched Arenado to St. Louis from the Colorado Rockies within the winter earlier than the 2021 season. Desirous to play for a winner, Arenado was dealt to the Cardinals. Nonetheless, the wedding hasn’t been what both he or the franchise have envisioned, as St. Louis has appeared in simply two wild-card matchups throughout his 4 seasons with the Cardinals, and the crew misplaced each of these, with Arenado going a mixed 1-for-12 within the course of.
Views and circumstances clearly change, however one factor that has not is Arenado’s dedication to taking part in for a constant winner. It was one of many largest the explanation why he wished out of Colorado and appeared for greener pastures underneath the Gateway Arch. It is now probably driving a few of the conversations being had by the Cardinals this offseason as they attempt to transfer him and a contract the place he’s nonetheless owed $74M over the subsequent three seasons.
Nonetheless, Arenado taking part in for one more franchise is not the head-scratcher of this entire scenario. It is truly picturing a generational third baseman not manning the recent nook. Mike Schmidt and Brooks Robinson, two Corridor of Fame third basemen who are sometimes in comparison with Arenado, not often moved off third base throughout their careers as a result of they have been so good at what they did there. In a mixed 5,299 video games throughout their careers, Schmidt and Robinson performed third base in 5,082 of them, successful a mixed 26 Gold Gloves on the place.
Turning 34 on April 16, it is clear that Arenado is shifting into the latter levels of his profession. Nonetheless, with 10 Gold Gloves and 6 Platinum Gloves on his mantle, it is also clear that Arenado has been the most effective third basemen to ever grace the sport. He nonetheless has the expertise and vary to play there, as evidenced by his Gold Glove nomination in 2024. Among the worries about his play at third base in 2023 dissolved with a bounce-back defensive efficiency final season.
Shifting Arenado to first base earlier than it turns into a necessity is akin to shifting the Mona Lisa to a gallery on a aspect road in Paris. Certain, it is nonetheless seen, however it’s not the place it must be.
What Arenado has finished at third base in the course of the course of his 12-year MLB profession has really been a murals, and metrics present it is not time for Arenado to place away the paint brush simply but. Whereas Arenado eager to do what he can to win a championship is comprehensible, robbing followers of watching him proceed to construct on a Corridor of Fame resume at third base by shifting to a different place can be a disgrace.
