Nolan Arenado has been traded by the Colorado Rockies to the St. Louis Cardinals.
It was bound to happen at some point, but the levees broke on Friday night. Perennial All-Star third basemen Nolan Arenado has been traded from the Colorado Rockies to the St. Louis Cardinals.
While Arenado had spent his entire big league career in Denver, the eight-time Gold Glove winner was not keen on the Rockies’ lengthy rebuilding process. The 29-year-old slugger wanted to go to a winning ball club and he now joins the presumptive favorite to win the NL Central in St. Louis. By adding him, the Redbirds have forced their way into the World Series conversation in the NL.
BREAKING: Cardinals have agreed to acquire Nolan Arenado from Rockies, sources tell @TheAthletic. Deal pending approval from both MLB and players’ union; Rockies sending Cardinals significant cash, believed to be in $50M range, and Arenado will be deferring money.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 30, 2021
How is the Nolan Arenado trade landing amongst MLB fans?
Cardinals fans are naturally ecstatic about landing a player of Arenado’s caliber at the hot corner. This should help them hold off teams like the Chicago Cubs or the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central race.
Cardinals have agreed to acquire Nolan Arenado from Rockies, pic.twitter.com/TGX5GemQaE
— Keaton Herman (@KeatonSwag33) January 30, 2021
https://twitter.com/elier_soto06/status/1355348852052619267
Nolan Arenado aint going anywhere with the cardinals😂💀
— TeeSerrano (@TeeSerrano1) January 30, 2021
Imagine trading Nolan Arenado man. Wild
— Thomas (@sadmetsszn) January 30, 2021
As for Colorado, it seems that they gave up their best player for pennies on the dollar. People are questioning what the Rockies are even doing at this point in time.
Noooo-lan. So bummed to hear Nolan Arenado is going to St. Louis. This sucks, @Rockies.
— Ben Dignan (@bendignan) January 30, 2021
So when it comes to the rest of the National League, St. Louis is now in a group of five teams with the Atlanta Braves, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the San Diego Padres and maybe even the New York Mets as teams who can realistically win the pennant.
This is huge! Oh my #nolanarenado pic.twitter.com/oSh1l7nzOz
— Josh Cox⛳️ (@Official_Jcox33) January 30, 2021
Wait a minute... the #Rockies are sending Nolan Arenado AND $50 million to the #Cardinals? https://t.co/EMKdz6j9SZ pic.twitter.com/s2D6YDE4lk
— Jay Tust (@KTVBSportsGuy) January 30, 2021
Ultimately, St. Louis is somewhere between the third and fourth best team in the National League. Los Angeles is definitely ahead of them and very like Atlanta. While they have surged past the on-the-rise Mets, the Cardinals will be duking it out with San Diego for the third best team in the Senior Circuit. This team can now get to the NLCS and possibly contend for a World Series title.
St. Louis won the Arenado sweepstakes, as Colorado continues to waste away in anonymity.