Benefits of hundreds of millions – But Allenado chooses… the heart
A $200 million offer, excluding bonuses, has been put on the table by the Dodgers, according to Latedaily. This is no small offer – it far exceeds the average contract of an 8-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner like Arenado.
However, instead of leaning towards finance, he openly put his faith in the love of the Cardinals – a team that is suffering from a crisis of form and injuries.
Dodgers did not grab? Why?
Not only did Arenado decline, but the Dodgers are also said to not be too interested in recruiting him at this time. According to Yahoo Sports, the Dodgers are not in a hurry to spend money, especially when they have a backup situation with Max Muncy and carefully consider the third base position.
Analysis from SI said that the Los Angeles team is hesitant to pay a “heavy” salary and does not want to replace Muncy – a solution that is both cheaper and more suitable now.
Complicated relationship with the Cardinals
Many sources revealed that Arenado was willing to accept leaving the Cardinals last year, especially teams like the Astros or Angels were on his priority list.
But in the end, he decided to stick with the Cardinals until the end, despite his $260 million contract that runs through 2027.
However, SI sources also emphasized that Arenado’s relationship with the Cardinals was not entirely smooth. After failing to reach the playoff target, his productivity dropped – putting pressure on the Cardinals to find a trade partner. Arenado had previously refused to trade to the Astros because he was worried they wouldn’t be competitive; and now the Dodgers don’t want to take on the burden of his salary.
The Dodgers, with their tight payroll policy and a preference for flexibility, still valued Arenado’s ability, but were not willing to pay the high price because Muncy had a 2026 option of only $10 million.
Nolan Arenado chose a rare path in baseball: loyalty and determination. Between the Dodgers’ offer and the Cardinals’ responsibility, he followed his heart. But the significance of this decision goes beyond sports – it is a testament to the fact that great players are not just defined by numbers, but by soul and belief.
While there has been no breakthrough on the Tottenham trade deadline, Arenado has instilled a new belief in Cardinals fans: “He will not abandon us – even though we sometimes do not see it.”