Looking back at the Arenado trade

[Shady]

If the Cardinals knew then how the Arenado deal would turn out. Would they have still made the trade?

[Jatalk]

If the Cardinals knew then how the Arenado deal would turn out. Would they have still made the trade?

With all due respect what do you think? Big time addition to payroll ( even with Colorado eating some of it). Only 3 playoff games. No playoff wins. One playoff hit. Declining performance. Can’t trade him. The list goes on.

[Absolut]

"In December, the Cardinals agreed to trade Gold Glove third baseman Nolan Arenado in to the Houston Astros, but he exercised his no-trade clause," wrote Nightengale. "He had a chance to be traded to the Los Angeles Angels in January. He turned it down."

[Michael Scarn]

I guess only if they made enough revenue off of the 2022 season of 3rd runner up for MVP. The trade has not given the Cards any leverage of getting into the post season and they are on the hook for a lot of money the next two seasons.
I would say no.

[Strummer Jones]

In that we got 3 good years and 1 so-so year for a few guys who've done NOTHING since leaving, sure.

I wouldn't be sad if we've seen the last of Nado here. But he did save us from potentially seeing Matt Carpenter at third base in '21, so I'm thankful for that.

As much as Nolan has fallen off with the bat, I'm still more upset at Mo and ownership (MOwnership) for pretty much betting the house on Goldy and Nado carrying the team and investing little in anything else since. Contreras and Gray notwithstanding.

[rockondlouie]

Gave up nothing

Rockies pitched in $55M

First three years average season as a Cardinal:
30 HR
100 RBI
.271 .328 .495 .824
126 OPS+
All-Star (3)
Gold Gloves (2)
Silver Slugger (1)
3rd in MVP Voting (22')

I'd still make that trade 100/100 times.

[Carp4Cy]

Gave up nothing

Rockies pitched in $55M

First three years average season as a Cardinal:
30 HR
100 RBI
.271 .328 .495 .824
126 OPS+
All-Star (3)
Gold Gloves (2)
Silver Slugger (1)
3rd in MVP Voting (22')

I'd still make that trade 100/100 times.

Completely agree. We had a chance to win a pennant in 2022 with both Goldie and Nado having MVP seasons. Plus we had Pujols, Yadi, Wainwright. It could have been magical but Mo decided to mail it in at the deadline and not get those 1 or 2 more pieces that could have put us over the top. And also Oli’s awful managing.

[RichieRichSTL]

Gave up nothing

Rockies pitched in $55M

First three years average season as a Cardinal:
30 HR
100 RBI
.271 .328 .495 .824
126 OPS+
All-Star (3)
Gold Gloves (2)
Silver Slugger (1)
3rd in MVP Voting (22')

I'd still make that trade 100/100 times.

Completely agree. We had a chance to win a pennant in 2022 with both Goldie and Nado having MVP seasons. Plus we had Pujols, Yadi, Wainwright. It could have been magical but Mo decided to mail it in at the deadline and not get those 1 or 2 more pieces that could have put us over the top. And also Oli’s awful managing.

That has always been the problem. Mo has rarely stepped up for the deserving teams. Dude mailed in 2015 and 2019 too.

[ICCFIM2]

Gave up nothing

Rockies pitched in $55M

First three years average season as a Cardinal:
30 HR
100 RBI
.271 .328 .495 .824
126 OPS+
All-Star (3)
Gold Gloves (2)
Silver Slugger (1)
3rd in MVP Voting (22')

I'd still make that trade 100/100 times.

Completely agree. We had a chance to win a pennant in 2022 with both Goldie and Nado having MVP seasons. Plus we had Pujols, Yadi, Wainwright. It could have been magical but Mo decided to mail it in at the deadline and not get those 1 or 2 more pieces that could have put us over the top. And also Oli’s awful managing.

Watching the trade deadlines the last several years, almost every team that is in condition adds at least 2 bullpen pieces with at least 1 be a closer level pitcher. MO added Quintana in 2022, which was a nice add, but no bullpen pieces. I had to sit through that horrible game against the Phillies where Helsley imploded and Oli did not have other great options. He should have still taken Helsley out. But, had MO fortified the back-end of the bullpen like he should have at the trade deadline, there is a very good chance the Cards advance further into the 2022 playoffs.

[imadangman]

I'd make the trade again. We didn't get the worst outcome but I think it was on the bad outcome side.

I would have hoped for just the first season he had here to be repeated 5 times and called it a good trade.

.255 .312 .494 34 34 105

Easy Easy HOF too, if he had 5 seasons like that.

Of course we wanted playoff results. Don't pin it on Arenado. The whole window fell flat on it's face in 2023. John Mozeliak certainly didn't think he was headed for 90 losses. He thought Jordan Walker and Willson Contreras would take the slack right up. Very poor planning.

[JDW]

Knowing what we know now, no, wouldn't have made that trade, instead trying to target Jose Ramirez, who was my preference at the time, but looks like Cleveland knew between Lindor and Ramirez that Jose was the guy to keep.
Still, knowing what we do now (which is never the case in real time so the question is pointless) you go another direction.

[Melville]

If the Cardinals knew then how the Arenado deal would turn out. Would they have still made the trade?

Outstanding question.
Very interesting.
One of the rare trades in which both teams lost - badly.
It is true the Rockies rid themselves of a malcontent cancer - but the return never worked out for them.
It is also true that STL gained a "me first, never a leader" personal stat counter - but he did not make the team a post season threat as intended.
Right now, both teams are suffering from the fallout.
The Rockies turned to Kris Bryant as the bat to replace N/A - and that has been a disaster for them.
And it is now the Cardinals who are stuck with a malcontent cancer.
If both organizations had a crystal ball, neither would have pulled the trigger on the deal.
Then again, Super Slo Mo isn't very bright and when he falls in love, he falls hard....

[slimjay63801]

If the Cardinals knew then how the Arenado deal would turn out. Would they have still made the trade?

Not a lot of thought necessary for the answer to this one Shady. A guy that Peter's out mid contract with tons of money owed still. Offensive productivity falls to below average ballplayer. Ask yourself that question and think about it before you answer.

[renostl]

If the Cardinals knew then how the Arenado deal would turn out. Would they have still made the trade?

Outstanding question.
Very interesting.
One of the rare trades in which both teams lost - badly.
It is true the Rockies rid themselves of a malcontent cancer - but the return never worked out for them.
It is also true that STL gained a "me first, never a leader" personal stat counter - but he did not make the team a post season threat as intended.
Right now, both teams are suffering from the fallout.
The Rockies turned to Kris Bryant as the bat to replace N/A - and that has been a disaster for them.
And it is now the Cardinals who are stuck with a malcontent cancer.
If both organizations had a crystal ball, neither would have pulled the trigger on the deal.
Then again, Super Slo Mo isn't very bright and when he falls in love, he falls hard....

Enough with the cancer analogy.
Cancer is serious.

This is baseball and the player is gone in a couple years at most.

Does high pay equate to leadership? I think that ideally it does, but it's
not a prerequisite. Are Ohtani, Soto, Trout, Guerrero, Seager or Judge overt leaders on their own teams?
That's questionable, but since they are putting up massive numbers it
doesn't become a question.

Ideally, IMO, ideally, NA would be a fantastic overt leader for us all to
see. I, unlike yourself, can accept that he isn't an overt leader even
when he unknowingly is. We have seen how the man does when he just
plays ball.

Is it on him not being what you, I, and others may like
from him or in the management in not continuing to complete the roster?
It's a question, after decades of developing staffs I place on myself. You might assume
after years of dialog that I may have developed staffs in different
genres.

I've had NA's on staff. HOF'ers that I hoped for but didn't receive that next step that I wished for.
When I put them back in their zone, I got the production needed for the job, the great
production that made me want more from them in the first place.
i.e. we don't ask WC, BD, AB, Libs, to be our leaders, they're not HOF, we ask HOF or highest paid
to be leaders, instead of assessing if they are.

[Melville]

If the Cardinals knew then how the Arenado deal would turn out. Would they have still made the trade?

Outstanding question.
Very interesting.
One of the rare trades in which both teams lost - badly.
It is true the Rockies rid themselves of a malcontent cancer - but the return never worked out for them.
It is also true that STL gained a "me first, never a leader" personal stat counter - but he did not make the team a post season threat as intended.
Right now, both teams are suffering from the fallout.
The Rockies turned to Kris Bryant as the bat to replace N/A - and that has been a disaster for them.
And it is now the Cardinals who are stuck with a malcontent cancer.
If both organizations had a crystal ball, neither would have pulled the trigger on the deal.
Then again, Super Slo Mo isn't very bright and when he falls in love, he falls hard....

Enough with the cancer analogy.
Cancer is serious.

This is baseball and the player is gone in a couple years at most.

Does high pay equate to leadership? I think that ideally it does, but it's
not a prerequisite. Are Ohtani, Soto, Trout, Guerrero, Seager or Judge overt leaders on their own teams?
That's questionable, but since they are putting up massive numbers it
doesn't become a question.

Ideally, IMO, ideally, NA would be a fantastic overt leader for us all to
see. I, unlike yourself, can accept that he isn't an overt leader even
when he unknowingly is. We have seen how the man does when he just
plays ball.

Is it on him not being what you, I, and others may like
from him or in the management in not continuing to complete the roster?
It's a question, after decades of developing staffs I place on myself. You might assume
after years of dialog that I may have developed staffs in different
genres.

I've had NA's on staff. HOF'ers that I hoped for but didn't receive that next step that I wished for.
When I put them back in their zone, I got the production needed for the job, the great
production that made me want more from them in the first place.
i.e. we don't ask WC, BD, AB, Libs, to be our leaders, they're not HOF, we ask HOF or highest paid
to be leaders, instead of assessing if they are.

A few points.
Let's not be overly sensitive.
The word "cancer" is not an analogy.
It has meanings other than the medical application.
Now, as to N/A - I am agnostic with all players.
Never for, never against.
N/A himself stated that he is no leader and begged Super Slo Mo to acquire others to fill that role.
It is not incorrect therefore to say what he himself has stated.
Nor is there anything wrong with stating unvarnished truth - he failed the organization's goal of being a post-season threat (and yes, he has admitted that as well).
Over the past 4 decades, I have employed thousands of associates.
Further, I have been a consultant (and still am) to billion-dollar companies who employee thousands of their own employees.
Success is quite literally my business.
It is never about others being what I want them to be (that, of course, has long been one of Mo's fatal flaws as I was first to understand and explain to all who gather here) - I am far too good a leader for that.
But it is about correctly understanding individuals for who they are - their strengths, their weaknesses, their potential - and placing each in a position which maximizes their contribution to the organization's goals.
And identifying those who will seek their own personal goals and agenda rather than that of the organization.
N/A has a 13 year record of words, deeds, and results by which to evaluate him.
My original analysis above is both fair and accurate.
And my overall reply to Shady was spot on.

[renostl]

If the Cardinals knew then how the Arenado deal would turn out. Would they have still made the trade?

Outstanding question.
Very interesting.
One of the rare trades in which both teams lost - badly.
It is true the Rockies rid themselves of a malcontent cancer - but the return never worked out for them.
It is also true that STL gained a "me first, never a leader" personal stat counter - but he did not make the team a post season threat as intended.
Right now, both teams are suffering from the fallout.
The Rockies turned to Kris Bryant as the bat to replace N/A - and that has been a disaster for them.
And it is now the Cardinals who are stuck with a malcontent cancer.
If both organizations had a crystal ball, neither would have pulled the trigger on the deal.
Then again, Super Slo Mo isn't very bright and when he falls in love, he falls hard....

Enough with the cancer analogy.
Cancer is serious.

This is baseball and the player is gone in a couple years at most.

Does high pay equate to leadership? I think that ideally it does, but it's
not a prerequisite. Are Ohtani, Soto, Trout, Guerrero, Seager or Judge overt leaders on their own teams?
That's questionable, but since they are putting up massive numbers it
doesn't become a question.

Ideally, IMO, ideally, NA would be a fantastic overt leader for us all to
see. I, unlike yourself, can accept that he isn't an overt leader even
when he unknowingly is. We have seen how the man does when he just
plays ball.

Is it on him not being what you, I, and others may like
from him or in the management in not continuing to complete the roster?
It's a question, after decades of developing staffs I place on myself. You might assume
after years of dialog that I may have developed staffs in different
genres.

I've had NA's on staff. HOF'ers that I hoped for but didn't receive that next step that I wished for.
When I put them back in their zone, I got the production needed for the job, the great
production that made me want more from them in the first place.
i.e. we don't ask WC, BD, AB, Libs, to be our leaders, they're not HOF, we ask HOF or highest paid
to be leaders, instead of assessing if they are.

A few points.
Let's not be overly sensitive.
The word "cancer" is not an analogy.
It has meanings other than the medical application.
Now, as to N/A - I am agnostic with all players.
Never for, never against.
N/A himself stated that he is no leader and begged Super Slo Mo to acquire others to fill that role.
It is not incorrect therefore to say what he himself has stated.
Nor is there anything wrong with stating unvarnished truth - he failed the organization's goal of being a post-season threat (and yes, he has admitted that as well).
Over the past 4 decades, I have employed thousands of associates.
Further, I have been a consultant (and still am) to billion-dollar companies who employee thousands of their own employees.
Success is quite literally my business.
It is never about others being what I want them to be (that, of course, has long been one of Mo's fatal flaws as I was first to understand and explain to all who gather here) - I am far too good a leader for that.
But it is about correctly understanding individuals for who they are - their strengths, their weaknesses, their potential - and placing each in a position which maximizes their contribution to the organization's goals.
And identifying those who will seek their own personal goals and agenda rather than that of the organization.
N/A has a 13 year record of words, deeds, and results by which to evaluate him.
My original analysis above is both fair and accurate.
And my overall reply to Shady was spot on.

You have no more right to
insensitivity than I to being overly sensitive.
To move on.

We have some like views of NA some very different.

In NA 12 PA's as a Cardinal he has almost no production. That's a given
but not the point. Nor is what either of what we have done in our careers.
Those can range from falsehoods to fact irrelevant but should be respected.

When NA says he isn't a leader why not accept what he says and be
the agnostic self you are claiming? Money and contracts do not mean leader. Sometimes even ideally
they may. Agnostics certainly wouldn't conclude that a player what a player
intentions are and why that player wanted to leave a losing organization
in order to go to a winning organization. He was after all accumulating
every personal achievement he could want in an ideal environment for
him in CO.

Do I have issue in a player not wanting to be a part of the solution. Absolutely.

Is there reason for a player to be a malcontent about his very own extremely
short career that organizations don't much concern themselves with? Again
absolutely. Neither the Rockies or the Cardinals have been committed to winning
on NA's tenure as certainly MO promised during their LA meeting when NA had a opt out.
There was a verbal that MO didn't adhere to and now he's a malcontent.


The Cards won that trade. They were attempting to win and lost nothing in acquiring NA.