Cardinals' Rebuild: The Tough Decisions Ahead

Rebuilding a team to positively alter the direction of a franchise and offer hope for better tomorrows often requires making tough decisions and enduring some growing pains along the way.

Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak highlighted this reality from his Dallas hotel suite on Monday night. Mozeliak announced his intention to trade 10-time Gold Glove winner Nolan Arenado and emphasized that not doing so this winter could limit the Cardinals' chances of coming out improved on the other side of what he termed a "reset" for 2025.

"It’s my intention to try," Mozeliak stated when asked about trading the 33-year-old third baseman, whom the Cardinals acquired from the Rockies before the 2021 season. He expressed optimism that both parties will remain happy somehow, but he also acknowledged that keeping Arenado might not align with the team's financial and competitive goals.

"From a financial standpoint, trying to move our payroll—there are certainly other ways to do that, but [trading Arenado] would be a big help. It’s financial, but it also creates a runway for someone else," Mozeliak explained. He noted that the decision to trade Arenado is not taken lightly and that Arenado is not demanding a trade. Instead, Mozeliak believes it is in the best interests of both sides to explore potential trade opportunities.

​"In this industry, change happens often. I understand change for some people can feel like anxiety, scary and disruptive, but sometimes it can be for the better. It’s how you embrace it and adjust," Mozeliak added.