to .111/.200/.111
St. Louis Cardinals Place Nolan Arenado on Injured List After Trade Deadline Passes
Just one day after the MLB trade deadline came and went without any moves involving Nolan Arenado, the St. Louis Cardinals have made a surprising decision. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Cardinals have placed their star third baseman on the 10-day injured list due to a strained right shoulder.
This news comes as a shock to many, as just yesterday it seemed like Arenado’s future with the Cardinals was uncertain. However, Nightengale reports that the decision to place him on the IL was made after he had been battling discomfort in his shoulder since early July. Despite trying to manage the injury without a stint on the IL, it seems that the team has decided it is best for Arenado to take some time to fully recover.
The timing of this move is also notable, as Arenado has been struggling at the plate in recent weeks. In the month of July, he posted a disappointing .175/.230/.211 slash line. And over his last 12 games, his production has dropped even further to a dismal .111/.200/.111. This dip in performance could be attributed to his shoulder injury, and the Cardinals are likely hoping that some time off will help him get back to his usual form.
It remains to be seen how long Arenado will be sidelined, but the Cardinals will surely miss his presence in the lineup. In the meantime, they will have to rely on their depth to fill the void left by their star third baseman. This is a developing story, so stay tuned for updates on Arenado’s condition and when he is expected to return to the field.
St. Louis Cardinals Place Nolan Arenado on 10-Day Injured List Just One Day After MLB Trade Deadline
In a surprising turn of events, the St. Louis Cardinals have placed third baseman Nolan Arenado on the 10-day injured list with a strained right shoulder, just one day after the MLB trade deadline passed without a move involving him. This news was reported by Bob Nightengale of USA Today on X (formerly Twitter).
Arenado, a 10-time Gold Glove Award winner, had been battling shoulder discomfort since early July but had been trying to manage the injury without a stint on the IL. However, his recent performance at the plate has been lackluster, with a .175/.230/.211 slash line in the month of July and a further drop to .159/.213/.205 over his last 12 games. He has only managed two extra-base hits and one RBI during this slump and has not hit a home run since June 21, causing his season OPS to plummet to .660.
This is only the fourth time in his 13-year career that Arenado has landed on the injured list, and it is only the second time since he joined the Cardinals. His most recent trip to the IL was in 2023 when he missed the final two weeks of the season with back soreness.
The timing of this move is significant as the Cardinals currently sit 5.5 games behind in the National League Wild Card race. Since the All-Star break, the team has struggled with a 3-9 record, with Arenado contributing to this with his poor performance at the plate. This led to the Cardinals becoming sellers at the trade deadline, moving bullpen arms Ryan Helsley, Phil Maton, and Steven Matz.
As a corresponding move, the Cardinals have activated infielder Nolan Gorman from the 10-day IL. Gorman, who was recovering from back spasms, began a rehab assignment earlier in the week and even homered in Double-A Springfield on Wednesday. He is expected to take over third base duties in Arenado’s absence.
To strengthen their depleted bullpen, the Cardinals have also recalled Ryan Fernandez, Roddery Muñoz, and Andre Granillo from Triple-A Memphis. Fernandez, who struggled earlier in the season with an 11.42 ERA over 11 major league appearances, has since improved with a 3.12 ERA and a 12.72 K/9 ratio in Memphis.
With the closer role now vacant, president of baseball operations John Mozeliak has indicated that JoJo Romero is the leading candidate, while Riley O’Brien and Kyle Leahy are expected to see increased usage in late-inning roles.
The Cardinals will begin a three-game series against the San Diego Padres on Friday night.
