All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado is aware that his time with the St. Louis Cardinals may be coming to an end. So when the Busch Stadium crowd showered him with appreciation, he embraced the moment.
Amid offseason trade speculation, Arenado launched an eighth-inning home run in Thursday’s 5-3 win over the Minnesota Twins. The 10-time Gold Glove winner then acknowledged the fans with a curtain call and a wave.
Cardinals supporters gave Arenado a loud ovation during pregame introductions.
“The way they cheered for me meant a lot. It fired me up, and I was just lucky to give them something to cheer for again,” Arenado said.
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He noted that curtain calls are rare for a single homer but acknowledged, “It was a big one,” per ESPN.
Throughout his four seasons in St. Louis, Arenado has delivered plenty of clutch home runs. However, last year, he posted his lowest home run total (16) and OPS (.719) in a full season since 2013.
Despite turning 34 next month, he remained a sought-after trade target this winter. However, he holds a no-trade clause and declined an opportunity to join the Houston Astros.
Lately, there have been no significant updates regarding a potential trade.
The Cardinals have missed the playoffs for two straight years and haven’t won a postseason game since the shortened 2020 season.
Arenado is under contract for three more seasons, with $52 million remaining on the eight-year, $260 million deal he originally signed with the Colorado Rockies in 2019.
“With so much uncertainty, a lot goes through your mind,” Arenado admitted. “I was thinking, ‘I don’t know if this will be my last time.’”
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