The Cardinals may have just dodged a major bullet. What began as a showcase of Nolan Arenado’s trademark brilliance during Sunday’s clash with the Diamondbacks nearly turned into a nightmare. As Arenado dazzled with his glove and bat, an unsettling moment on the field threatened to overshadow it all. And when the All-Star third baseman addressed the media postgame, his words sent a shiver down the spines of Cardinals fans everywhere.

Guess what, the injury was scarier than it was thought. But how did it happen?

It started in the ninth inning, when the Diamondbacks batter Ketel Marte lifted a foul pop-up toward the left-field stands. The Cardinals’ veteran gave chase, tracking the ball into foul territory before crashing hard into the protective netting near the spectator area. In the process, he made an acrobatic catch but appeared to injure his back while also attempting to make a quick throw back to the infield. That’s all in one breathtaking, painful sequence.

Surely that’s something we call putting the body on line, but at what cost?

“Nolan Arenado said he took the blow of falling into the seats in the kidney and couldn’t breathe for about a minute. However, he wanted nothing to do with leaving the game and stayed in despite the searing pain,” MLB insider John Denton said.

Read that again, Arenado couldn’t breathe for a minute!

When Arenado went down, grabbing his back, you could feel the whole stadium hold its breath. It really looked like he might’ve seriously hurt himself trying to protect a tight lead in the ninth inning. Thankfully, he was able to stay in the game. After making that full-on lunge for the foul popup, he crashed into the netting and even tumbled into the front row behind third base. Somehow, he shook it off and kept going.

Well, it was a wild moment that had fans on edge, but also showed exactly the kind of grit Arenado is known for.

Until now, there’s no update from the Cardinals about any further medical revelations about Arenado. Hence, it seems things are in place.

For starters, there’s already been some buzz about the Cardinals possibly exploring trade options. All thanks to Arenado’s sudden dip in performance. Well, hitting just .242 with only 5 HRs so far, he’s fallen well short of the high bar he’s set throughout his career. And surely that drop-off isn’t going unnoticed.

So yes, moments like Sunday’s gutsy play remind everyone of what he’s capable of. But it remains to be seen whether those clutch flashes are enough to change the conversation. Or just delay the inevitable.

The Cardinals are turning the tables this time

Well, what makes the situation even more intriguing is that the Cardinals are actually playing solid baseball this season. They currently sit second in the NL Central with an impressive 30-23 record. Something few saw coming a month ago. But dig into the team stats, and one name is surprisingly absent from the top performers. Nolan Arenado.

Yes, take home runs, for example. Lars Nootbaar leads the club with seven, and Arenado doesn’t even crack the top four. So, for a player once considered the heart of the lineup, his quiet numbers have been hard to ignore.

So, what’s the key recipe to their sudden success?

A key factor in their success has been solid pitching, led by Sonny Gray with five wins and 66 strikeouts, and Matthew Liberatore sporting a 2.73 ERA. Offensively, Nootbaar leads the team with seven home runs. Brendan Donovan and Willson Contreras have stepped up with a .328 average and 28 RBIs, respectively.

That said, there’s no denying Arenado’s value if the Cardinals are serious about making a run in October. His clutch instincts, veteran leadership, and postseason experience aren’t easily replaced, especially in high-pressure moments that define playoff baseball. Hence, trading him could prove costly when it matters most.

However, if the front office is leaning toward a rebuild or looking to reset financially, moving Arenado and shedding a significant portion of his $260 million contract could make sense from a long-term standpoint. Well, it’s a tough balance, compete now or plan for the future!