imadangman wrote: ↑27 Jul 2025 20:51 pm
I have a hard time believing Arenado can last on this roster through 2027. It's very clear he's in decline. He has an OPS+ of 88 at 3rd base, and seems to be losing mobility. Did anyone see him running home last night from 2nd base. You can't have Gorman, Wetherholt, Arenado, Donovan, all on this roster.
The Cardinals surely are going to have an uphill battle trading him. Does anyone know how much money teams are expecting the Cardinals to cover? Is it possible teams are expecting us to cover the whole thing? He looks like a salary dump or a player you'd have to attach to a prospect to move.
What are the odds the Cardinals eventually have to just DFA him, anytime between now and when the contract is up?
BDW probably wouldn't want to swallow the sunken cost yet. If they have to DFA him it probably wouldn't happen until mid-2026 I bet, after more possible failed attempts to trade him.
$ always plays for this team. They do not eat contracts. Donovan plays LF. Gorman plays a horrible 3B. Move on from one or 2 of Gorman, Noot, Burleson. Walker.
Couple of quick points.
One, when Bloom takes over, N/A will already be gone.
A new chapter begins, and N/A will not be part of it.
Two, in 231 career innings at 3b, Gorman ranks +2 rTOT per year - just about average.
His arm, of course, is above average.
I suggest letting things play out before making any assumptions.
imadangman wrote: ↑27 Jul 2025 20:51 pm
I have a hard time believing Arenado can last on this roster through 2027. It's very clear he's in decline. He has an OPS+ of 88 at 3rd base, and seems to be losing mobility. Did anyone see him running home last night from 2nd base. You can't have Gorman, Wetherholt, Arenado, Donovan, all on this roster.
The Cardinals surely are going to have an uphill battle trading him. Does anyone know how much money teams are expecting the Cardinals to cover? Is it possible teams are expecting us to cover the whole thing? He looks like a salary dump or a player you'd have to attach to a prospect to move.
What are the odds the Cardinals eventually have to just DFA him, anytime between now and when the contract is up?
BDW probably wouldn't want to swallow the sunken cost yet. If they have to DFA him it probably wouldn't happen until mid-2026 I bet, after more possible failed attempts to trade him.
Similar OPS+ as his last season in CO
I fully accept that he's aged. I also think he's less of
a player with pressure. Pressure like attempting to be a better player in order to be attractive enough for a trade.
That's a good point. Compared to the last 2 seasons he seems more accepting of where he is in his career. Or maybe I just made that up.
if N/A had accepted the truth about his decline, he would have changed his approach at the plate.
He hasn't.
He is still trying to pull and elevate - but he's just too slow now.
Which is why there are so many weak popups in the middle of the field.
imadangman wrote: ↑27 Jul 2025 20:51 pm
I have a hard time believing Arenado can last on this roster through 2027. It's very clear he's in decline. He has an OPS+ of 88 at 3rd base, and seems to be losing mobility. Did anyone see him running home last night from 2nd base. You can't have Gorman, Wetherholt, Arenado, Donovan, all on this roster.
The Cardinals surely are going to have an uphill battle trading him. Does anyone know how much money teams are expecting the Cardinals to cover? Is it possible teams are expecting us to cover the whole thing? He looks like a salary dump or a player you'd have to attach to a prospect to move.
What are the odds the Cardinals eventually have to just DFA him, anytime between now and when the contract is up?
BDW probably wouldn't want to swallow the sunken cost yet. If they have to DFA him it probably wouldn't happen until mid-2026 I bet, after more possible failed attempts to trade him.
$ always plays for this team. They do not eat contracts. Donovan plays LF. Gorman plays a horrible 3B. Move on from one or 2 of Gorman, Noot, Burleson. Walker.
The Cardinals threw 17mm to the Mariners in the Mike Leake trade. I could see them letting go of Arenado after '26 since he would only have 15mm plus deferred money due.
They paid like $13 million to the Angels for Fowler, they ate the contract of Jhonny Peralta too.
45s wrote: ↑27 Jul 2025 21:08 pm
They may not have a choice….unless they are content with a dead spot on the roster….
Package him with Mootbaar.
Easiest way to get him out of town - and the team gets better at 2 roster spots.
That would reduce the amount of N/A dollars STL would have to eat.
I have said the several times. At some point, they have to tell Nado, we love you, we are happy to have you, but it is time for you to be a bench player. This puts EVERYTHING on Nado as far as to how he wants to end his career. It will likely end the NO Trade clause.
This will need to happy with Mikolas and Gray as well.
We appreciate your service, but you are going to the bullpen. That will light a fire under a few butts.
imadangman wrote: ↑27 Jul 2025 20:51 pm
I have a hard time believing Arenado can last on this roster through 2027. It's very clear he's in decline. He has an OPS+ of 88 at 3rd base, and seems to be losing mobility. Did anyone see him running home last night from 2nd base. You can't have Gorman, Wetherholt, Arenado, Donovan, all on this roster.
The Cardinals surely are going to have an uphill battle trading him. Does anyone know how much money teams are expecting the Cardinals to cover? Is it possible teams are expecting us to cover the whole thing? He looks like a salary dump or a player you'd have to attach to a prospect to move.
What are the odds the Cardinals eventually have to just DFA him, anytime between now and when the contract is up?
BDW probably wouldn't want to swallow the sunken cost yet. If they have to DFA him it probably wouldn't happen until mid-2026 I bet, after more possible failed attempts to trade him.
Similar OPS+ as his last season in CO
I fully accept that he's aged. I also think he's less of
a player with pressure. Pressure like attempting to be a better player in order to be attractive enough for a trade.
That's a good point. Compared to the last 2 seasons he seems more accepting of where he is in his career. Or maybe I just made that up.
if N/A had accepted the truth about his decline, he would have changed his approach at the plate.
He hasn't.
He is still trying to pull and elevate - but he's just too slow now.
Which is why there are so many weak popups in the middle of the field.
This might be an excellent point.
I tend to see it this way but I have not compared video.
I just remember it as the same.
If it is. It was a flawed approach that his great talent was able to overcome in his peak years.
45s wrote: ↑27 Jul 2025 21:08 pm
They may not have a choice….unless they are content with a dead spot on the roster….
Package him with Mootbaar.
Easiest way to get him out of town - and the team gets better at 2 roster spots.
That would reduce the amount of N/A dollars STL would have to eat.
Is there a contender that would want 2 under perfoming bats? I think that the only package that a contender would want is with Helsley.
45s wrote: ↑27 Jul 2025 21:08 pm
They may not have a choice….unless they are content with a dead spot on the roster….
Package him with Mootbaar.
Easiest way to get him out of town - and the team gets better at 2 roster spots.
That would reduce the amount of N/A dollars STL would have to eat.
Is there a contender that would want 2 under perfoming bats? I think that the only package that a contender would want is with Helsley.
45s wrote: ↑27 Jul 2025 21:08 pm
They may not have a choice….unless they are content with a dead spot on the roster….
Package him with Mootbaar.
Easiest way to get him out of town - and the team gets better at 2 roster spots.
That would reduce the amount of N/A dollars STL would have to eat.
I'll give you credit because that's a dream scenario. But what if you've got a team that will pay a big prospect individually for Nootbaar.
I wouldn't DFA him and get no return on the money. If he won't agree to a trade and if 2026 is a rebuild keep him in 2026 to pinch hit and spot start and be a positive influence on the young players.
imadangman wrote: ↑27 Jul 2025 20:51 pm
I have a hard time believing Arenado can last on this roster through 2027. It's very clear he's in decline. He has an OPS+ of 88 at 3rd base, and seems to be losing mobility. Did anyone see him running home last night from 2nd base. You can't have Gorman, Wetherholt, Arenado, Donovan, all on this roster.
The Cardinals surely are going to have an uphill battle trading him. Does anyone know how much money teams are expecting the Cardinals to cover? Is it possible teams are expecting us to cover the whole thing? He looks like a salary dump or a player you'd have to attach to a prospect to move.
What are the odds the Cardinals eventually have to just DFA him, anytime between now and when the contract is up?
BDW probably wouldn't want to swallow the sunken cost yet. If they have to DFA him it probably wouldn't happen until mid-2026 I bet, after more possible failed attempts to trade him.
Similar OPS+ as his last season in CO
I fully accept that he's aged. I also think he's less of
a player with pressure. Pressure like attempting to be a better player in order to be attractive enough for a trade.
That's a good point. Compared to the last 2 seasons he seems more accepting of where he is in his career. Or maybe I just made that up.
if N/A had accepted the truth about his decline, he would have changed his approach at the plate.
He hasn't.
He is still trying to pull and elevate - but he's just too slow now.
Which is why there are so many weak popups in the middle of the field.
This might be an excellent point.
I tend to see it this way but I have not compared video.
I just remember it as the same.
If it is. It was a flawed approach that his great talent was able to overcome in his peak years.
Nearly 100% of his power was to left field - and he had a big whirlybird style swing to get elevation.
That was fine when he was young enough and fast enough to get around quickly on a pitch.
Now, he's late and slow.
Popups to the middle of the field are the result.
Last edited by Melville on 27 Jul 2025 22:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.
cardstatman wrote: ↑27 Jul 2025 21:59 pm
He's not earning his big salary but we don't have 13 players better than Arenado right now. DFA would not be smart.
However, at 34 years old, he should be only playing 5 games per week (and only 4 when his bat is slumping under a .650 OPS for the past 4 weeks).
Another poster mentioned batting him 8th. That's what the D-Backs were doing with Longoria not long ago. Arenado still provides much better D than Longoria but for how much longer.
45s wrote: ↑27 Jul 2025 21:08 pm
They may not have a choice….unless they are content with a dead spot on the roster….
Package him with Mootbaar.
Easiest way to get him out of town - and the team gets better at 2 roster spots.
That would reduce the amount of N/A dollars STL would have to eat.
Is there a contender that would want 2 under perfoming bats? I think that the only package that a contender would want is with Helsley.
Or Donny or Gray
Maybe.
I'd rather lose the value of Helsley in
such a deal than Donovan I think
45s wrote: ↑27 Jul 2025 21:08 pm
They may not have a choice….unless they are content with a dead spot on the roster….
Package him with Mootbaar.
Easiest way to get him out of town - and the team gets better at 2 roster spots.
That would reduce the amount of N/A dollars STL would have to eat.
Is there a contender that would want 2 under perfoming bats? I think that the only package that a contender would want is with Helsley.
Helsey is the best "rental" chip they have.
And he will be one of the most coveted rentals if Mo moves him.
Tying him to N/A would defeat the purpose.
