Nolan Arenado doesn’t sound like a man opting out of Cardinals contract

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado can opt out at the end of this season. Yet, he didn’t sound like a man ready to test free agency after their Wild Card defeat.

Arenado suddenly seems more unlikely to opt out of his contract, which as currently constructed would keep him in St. Louis for four more years.

The Cards are built from the corner infield out, with Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt as the pillars of their success. Yet, those two players went a combined 1-for-15 in this stretch.

St. Louis acquired Arenado in a steal of a trade in February of 2021. The organization did this knowing full and well that he could opt out of his deal in the 2021 and 2022 offseasons. Yet, it doesn’t appear he’ll do either.

Why won’t Nolan Arenado opt out of Cardinals contract?

Arenado was reportedly speaking with fellow players about spring training prep after the Cards Wild Card defeat.

Back in September, MLB insider Jon Heyman hinted that Arenado would not opt out:

“Even with NL MVP candidate Nolan Arenado planning not to opt out of his Cardinals deal—’he will stay a Cardinal,’ a friend says—no less than six opt-outs and player options for stars will bolster a solid free-agent list and make it special,” Heyman wrote.”

Arenado will be 32 years old next April. If he were to roll the dice on getting a new contract, it likely wouldn’t be for the AAV he’ll receive in his current deal. Nolan is scheduled to make $35 million, $35 million and $32 million each of the next three seasons. Beyond that, he will make a combined $42 million before his contract expires in 2027.

Without mainstays like Yadier Molina and Albert Pujols next season, Arenado being a part of the equation is more important than ever before.