Up until about a week ago, if you talked to Cardinals fans, you heard a lot of doom and gloom. “Why did they not pick up Kolten Wong’s option?” “Why haven’t they brought franchise icons Adam Wainwright, and Yadier Molina back?” “Why haven’t they signed any big league talent?” “Does John Mozeliak even want this team to win?” Those, and many other statements were being uttered around message boards, Twitter, and everywhere else there’s Cardinal fans. 

In a franchise changing moment, the Cardinals let everyone know they were indeed planning on trying to win when they traded Austin Gomber and 4 prospects to the Colorado Rockies for 3B Nolan Arenado (and a cool $51,000,000). It was at this moment, the whole script was flipped. Actually, when Adam Wainwright had resigned a few days prior to the trade and hinted at the Cardinals making another move; nobody could have predicted Arenado coming to the Cardinals.  Over the last 8 years, Nolan Arenado, who turns 30 this April, has won following awards: Rookie of the Year, Gold Glove all 8 seasons, 4 Silver Sluggers, 3 Top 5 finishes in the MVP of the National League, led the league 3 times in Homeruns, 2 times in RBI’s, and has been good for about 5 W.A.R. each season.  The Cardinals have gotten an absolute stud to man the hot corner and bat in the middle of their lineup.

The signing of free agent catcher Yadier Molina now seems almost certain, when he finishes playing for Puerto Rico at the conclusion of the Caribbean Series this weekend. With the recent trade of Dexter Fowler to the Angels to clear a roster spot, there is even more speculation about the Cardinals looking to possibly add another bat (Marcell Ozuna reunion), or another arm Jake Odorizzi (Breese IL native located 45 minutes from St. Louis). All of a sudden the 2021 Cardinals look like they may be much more exciting than they were a mere two weeks ago.