Cardinals’ Nolan Arenado 'Wouldn't Be Shocked' If He’s Traded At Deadline
The St. Louis Cardinals are in no position to do anything but sell prior to the upcoming Aug. 1 Major League Baseball trade deadline.
Apparently, players inside the clubhouse are bracing for the worst, including the best player on the roster, Nolan Arenado.
"Cardinals superstar third baseman Nolan Arenado said he wouldn’t be shocked if he’s traded," The New York Post's Jon Heyman wrote Tuesday.
“I’ve been traded once,” Arenado told Heyman. “I think that shocked a lot of people at that time. I guess it doesn’t surprise me anymore what happens in this game. It would still be surprising seeing some things happen. But I understand there are certain things that probably should.”
Yes, the Cardinals should sell, and some players should expect to be moved but there's a huge difference between selling and blowing it up. St. Louis is in a position to trade impending free agents and then re-tool for next season.
Arenado is the starting third baseman for the National League in the All-Star Game and still has four more seasons left on his massive deal with the Cardinals.
The 32-year-old future Hall of Famer isn't going anywhere, neither is first baseman Paul Goldschmidt.
Starting pitchers Jordan Montgomery and Jack Flaherty, relievers Chris Stratton and Jordan Hicks and shortstop Pual DeJong? Those guys have reason to "brace" for a trade.
St. Louis might want to keep Montgomery around to sign a long-term deal this winter but they better be damn sure he comes back. Otherwise, they'd be punting on selling off one of the most valuable trade assets of the deadline for nothing but a compensatory pick next July.
Those players are worth discussing but Arenado is safe.
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