Remember Nolan Arenado? He was the trade target all offseason and yet, nothing actually happened. Arenado is still with the St. Louis Cardinals. It’s not like teams did not try to grab him. The Astros came very close to a deal but Arenado rejected their offer at the last minute. Yes, Arenado has that power since he has a no-trade clause.

The Red Sox were also in the mix for the third baseman’s services but unfortunately they went in another direction and inked a deal with Alex Bregman. But was there a trade even to begin with? Arenado is now 33 and his numbers keep on dipping. On top of that, there is a lot of money involved. Prior to becoming a free agent, he is owed $21 million in 2025, $16 million in 2026, and $15 million in 2027.

No New York for Nolan Arenado right now

Apart from Houston and Boston, the New York Yankees were mentioned as a potential fit this winter. However, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, as reported by Fansided.com, they have almost no cash available. So what now? Now Arenado has to be with a team who had full intentions on trading and even made it very public. Awkward right?

But the 33-year-old player seems to be okay and accepts it with grace. It was very clear that the Cardinals wanted to get rid of this player to shed some salary but for now, he’s not going anywhere. The team wanted to try out young players and hit a reset button. As Spring Training kicks off, there’s been a wave of excitement surrounding the St. Louis Cardinals, despite much of the off-season chatter being clouded by doubt. One of the most electric names on the roster so far? Willson Contreras.

The Cardinals chose Willson Contreras to replace Paul Goldschmidt

The thrice named All-Star catcher is ensuring that the fans feel his energy on the field. It is an absolute relief to see Contreras, among the most talented catchers in this sport, coming straight back from an offseason of heavy critics with many having asked the team what indeed was he doing behind the Cardinals lineup still.

Willson Contreras has always been a force at the plate, and despite the offseason drama that had fans on edge, he’s come out swinging—literally. After navigating trade rumors and the decision to stay with the Cardinals using his no-trade clause, Contreras has turned the page and is fully embracing his new role at first base. Transitioning from catcher to first base is no small feat, especially with Paul Goldschmidt‘s legacy looming over that spot.

At the plate, he’s been absolutely on fire. In just three games, Contreras has collected four hits in six at-bats, including a double, an RBI, and a walk. Those numbers—.667/.750/.833—are jaw-dropping, even in a small sample size. If he keeps up this kind of performance, Contreras will be a major contributor to the Cardinals’ offense, and he could very well be the spark they need to prove the doubters wrong.