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STL Cardinals: 4 bold predictions for 2023 Opening Day

By Kevin Henry

Apr 22, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) throws to first to get the out against the Cincinnati Reds in the third inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 22, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) throws to first to get the out against the Cincinnati Reds in the third inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports /
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MLB Power Rankings, Nolan Arenado, Cardinals
Nolan Arenado of the St. Louis Cardinals. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

St. Louis Cardinals bold prediction: Nolan Arenado wins NL MVP honors

Arenado put up monster seasons with the Colorado Rockies, but never finished higher than third in the National League Most Valuable Player balloting. After being traded to the Cardinals before the 2021 campaign, Arenado, who will turn 32 during the 2023 season, continued to rake at the plate, proving he was certainly not just a Coors Field creation. That included last year when he slashed .293/.358/.533 with 30 home runs, 103 RBI, and a career-high OPS+ of 154.

Still, even with the eye-popping numbers, Arenado once again finished third among MVP candidates as teammate Paul Goldschmidt took home the award.

This year, however, will be the year that Arenado finally wins that elusive MVP. After choosing to not opt out of his contract in the offseason, there will be no distractions for the 10-time Gold Glove winner as he focuses on continually improving his craft. For Arenado, hitting is a church in which he worships throughout the year, including the offseason and throughout spring training.

Arenado for MVP? Back-to-back MVPs for the Cardinals? Both seem to have a very nice ring in St. Louis.

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