St. Louis Cardinals fans are wondering how the team will use the funds saved from the Nolan Arenado trade. With nearly $100 million cleared off their payroll, many are expecting a significant move.
However, the Cardinals don’t necessarily need to sign a major free agent; they could explore trades or even focus on securing one of their homegrown stars with a contract extension.
Mike Axisa of CBS Sports highlighted a key extension candidate: Nolan Arenado. Axisa proposed that the Cardinals could offer Arenado a deal spanning four years, potentially worth around $47 million, with an option to bring it up to $50 million. The proposed breakdown would include $7 million for 2026 (his second arbitration year), $10 million for 2027 (third arbitration year), and $15 million for 2028 and 2029 (free-agent years).
As Axisa notes, spring is a prime time for teams to secure their top talents with long-term contracts. Rumors about an extension for Arenado have been circulating for a while, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he ends up being the primary focus of the Cardinals’ investment.
Arenado has proven valuable both offensively and defensively. He boasts a career 117 wRC+ and a 131 mark in 2024, along with 52 stolen bases in three seasons, being caught only 13 times. He’s also earned three consecutive Gold Gloves for his exceptional defense in third base.
Axisa believes Arenado’s all-around contributions make him a strong candidate for a four-year deal near $50 million, or even more with an option buyout. While Arenado may lack significant power, his elite plate discipline and bat-to-ball skills set him apart from players like Arenado. Over his first three seasons, Arenado has averaged a solid 4.0 fWAR, making the proposed contract a potentially great value for the Cardinals.