The St. Louis Cardinals’ Nolan Arenado reportedly decided to pass on the opt-out clause in his contract. This means that the All-Star third baseman is now under contract with the franchise through the 2027 MLB season.
Arenado inked a nine-year, $275 million contract with the Colorado Rockies back in 2019. The contract gave the player two op-out clauses, with the last one being after this season.
The 31-year-old player will now remain in St-Louis on what is essentially a five-year, $155 million deal. The $31 million of this figure will be paid for by the Rockies.
Arenado had a stellar season in 2022, finishing the campaign with a .293 batting average, 30 home runs, and 103 RBIs. He earned his seventh All-Star appearance and will most likely be in the top 5 in NL MVP voting.
“I love the organization I love my teammates ,coaches, and trainers. Excited for the future,” — Arenado shared with the Post-Dispatch.
Nolan Arenado spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Rockies and became a franchise legend in Colorado. During that time, he led the NL in home runs three times while making five NL appearances. He also set several franchise records.
Arenado’s ended his time with the Rockies on a bitter note, requesting a trade just one year after signing his massive extension. He reportedly felt disrespected by the franchise and believed the front office failed to build a team around him. The Rockies agreed to trade him ahead of the 2021 MLB season after making a deal with the Cardinals.
