Deals Bring Mood Boost for St. Louis Cardinal Fans

It’s amazing how just a few moves made by the St. Louis Cardinals front office could change the entire mood of an anxious fanbase for the better.

After weeks of waiting, Thursday kicked off a series of good news for a St. Louis Cardinals fanbase worried if the management of their favorite team would do anything of benefit.

Thursday, it was announced that the team signed veteran pitcher, Adam Wainwright to a one-year, $8 million contract. Here is Matt Graves’s story on the signing.

While we are getting to his later years, it’s still Waino. It’s still the man you see as a clubhouse leader. The go-to guy for younger pitchers to bounce ideas off. The tough-as-nails pitcher who still has a twelve-six curve that will buckle an intimidated hitter’s knees.

This very well could be his final season. It would have been devastating to this fanbase to see this guy we’ve watched develop into the pitcher he’s become, just leave. Imagining him in another team’s uniform would have been too much to consider for many.

Once fans heard of Waino’s singing, it was pretty certain you would hear of the signing of Yadier Molina. While the details are limited, it has been reported Yadi will be back. Numerous reports have Yadi set to sign a deal after he completes play in the Caribbean Series, or sooner. He has wanted to sign a multi-year deal, but it seems the deal on the table is for one year.

Even if it is just a one-year deal, it confirms fans will get one more year of battery mates, Waino and Yadi. Most fans will be excited to have one more year of them together. And if it leads to more, so be it.

And if that wasn’t enough, fans got the news many have waited years to hear.

It was confirmed late Friday evening the Cardinals are set to receive third baseman Nolan Arenado in a trade with the Colorado Rockies. Brett Ramsey reported the news here.

Details are being finalized but it is expected the Cardinals will receive Arenado and about $50 million in cash in exchange for several players. While names have been mentioned, none of those names include top prospects Nolan Gorman or Matthew Liberatore.

It’s been long rumored that one or both prospects would have to be included for any deal to be completed. Not seeing their names included is a huge plus. Names have included pitchers Aaron Gomber, Jake Woodford, and outfielder Jhon Torres.

It’s shocking that this might be all it takes to land the long-coveted, eight-time Gold Glove third baseman. Arenado’s current deal has him signed through 2026. It is rumored that Arenado would retain his opt-out after the 2021 season, gain an opt-out year in 2022, retain his no-trade clause, and get another year added onto the end.

If deal between Rockies and Cardinals is finalized, Arenado will keep his opt out after 2021, get an additional opt out after 2022 and retain his full no-trade clause, sources tell @TheAthletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 30, 2021

It also appears MLB and the Union will have to approve the transaction.

Deal unlikely to be official tonight and maybe even not this weekend. Arenado will need to formally waive his no-trade clause and his opt-out after 2021 also must be addressed. Approvals from MLB and union necessary as well, as reported in initial tweet. https://t.co/xuCNkaD5kq
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 30, 2021

I’m thrilled to see Arenado join Paul Goldschmidt. They will prove outstanding manning the corners of the infield for several years to come. And with Paul DeJong at shortstop, it will be interesting to see if the Cardinals could re-sign two-time Gold Glove second baseman Kolten Wong. It would be the most amazing infield this team has seen in years.