The St. Louis Cardinals appear to be entering a new era, with Chaim Bloom set to take over as president of baseball operations this offseason, signaling a major shift in the organization’s direction.
As the club leans into a youth movement, the future of veteran third baseman Nolan Arenado is increasingly uncertain. The 34-year-old is enduring the worst season of his 13-year career, hitting just .235 with a .660 OPS and only 10 home runs over 96 games in 2025.
Arenado has been battling right shoulder inflammation for much of the season, and with the issue persisting, he was placed on the injured list on August 1. That injury has likely played a key role in his diminished offensive production.
Nolan Arenado Injury Update
With speculation growing among fans about whether Nolan Arenado has played his final game in a Cardinals uniform, the veteran infielder recently returned to St. Louis to consult with team doctors after spending time rehabbing at the club’s spring training facility in Florida.
Arenado has since announced that he will begin a rehab assignment, aiming to rejoin the team for their final homestand of the season against the Cincinnati Reds, which begins on September 15.
“Nolan Arenado said he is at the point in his work where his plan is to go on a rehab next week—likely at Springfield—and then return a week from Monday when the Reds arrive in St. Louis to start the final homestand,” wrote Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat.
This is exciting news for both Arenado and the organization, as it was unclear whether he would return this season. Although St. Louis sits at 70–71 and a 5.5-game deficit is unlikely to be overcome in the NL wild card race, Arenado’s return will be valuable.
For the Cardinals, it’s a chance to assess his health and value as they decide whether to continue exploring a trade of the veteran third baseman in the offseason.
For Arenado, a strong finish could show he still has offensive production left and that his injury truly impacted his swing and effectiveness.
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