Nolan Arenado is staying put with the Cardinals — at least for now. The star third baseman has made it clear he’s not dwelling on the trade rumors that have swirled around him this offseason.
“I’m locked in,” Arenado told Jon Heyman of the New York Post. “My expectation is to be here Opening Day. (That’s) until they tell me something’s going on, then guess I will adjust. But until I hear that, I’m locked in. I’m not trying to cause any problems. I’ve got to be committed.”
The eight-time All-Star has been frequently linked to the Yankees, who have a glaring need at third base as they look to build on last season’s American League championship. New York is currently running an in-house competition between Oswaldo Cabrera and Oswald Peraza at the hot corner — a situation that could certainly benefit from Arenado’s proven track record.
What’s driving Arenado’s focus is his determination to bounce back from what he considers a down year.
“The year I had last year wasn’t the year I wanted,” he said. “I feel like I’m better than that. So I’ve got to focus on being better than that. I expect to be a lot better. I have some lofty expectations.”
The 10-time Gold Glove winner and five-time Silver Slugger still has three years remaining on his eight-year, $260 million contract with St. Louis. That’s a significant commitment, but it’s also what makes him such an attractive trade target for a team like the Yankees that’s clearly in win-now mode.
For now, though, Arenado is concentrating on helping the Cardinals return to contention. The way he’s approaching the situation suggests he’s not pushing for an exit, even as speculation continues to link him to other clubs.
