Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado has informed the organization he will be opting into the remainder of his five-year, $144 million contract, a league source told The Athletic on Saturday.
Arenado, who was traded to St. Louis from Colorado prior to the 2021 season, was facing his second and final opt-out clause in the deal. The Cardinals had expressed optimism throughout the 2022 season that the seven-time All-Star would return to St. Louis. After St. Louis was eliminated from the postseason, talks between the Cardinals and Arenado began to intensify. President of baseball operations John Mozeliak traveled to Southern California — where Arenado resides in the offseason — on Monday, and the two met to discuss the future of the organization.
Mozeliak expressed optimism the decision would be made in the near future.
“I’m optimistic this will have a positive resolution,” Mozeliak said during his end-of-season press conference Wednesday morning. “Very hopeful there is some resolution here shortly.”
Since being acquired by St. Louis, Arenado has notched back-to-back All-Star berths and is in the running for his 10th consecutive Gold Glove, which would tie him with Mike Schmidt for the second-most Gold Gloves by a third baseman all-time. The 31-year-old also compiled two consecutive seasons with at least 30 homers and 100 RBIs and is in the running for his fifth Silver Slugger award.
The Cardinals have now locked up the hot corner through the 2027 season with one of baseball’s most accomplished players. They have also crossed off their top two main priorities of the offseason. Arenado’s decision to remain with the club, along with Adam Wainwright returning for one final season, clears the way for Mozeliak to address four open coaching positions on the Cardinals staff, while also looking to boost the roster with an expected increased payroll for 2023.
“There’s obviously some needs,” Mozeliak said. “We’re going to have to address the catcher. You have to look at how we want to augment the offense, and … you’re always in need of pitching. So those will be our focuses as we enter the GM meetings and work our way up to winter meetings.”
(Photo: Dylan Buell / Getty Images)