RADIO
Nolan Arenado 2024 Player Outlook: 2023 Enough Cause For Concern
11 months agoSt. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado had himself a solid season in 2023. The 32-year-old smacked 26 home runs to go along with 93 RBI across 144 games and a hefty 612 trips to the plate. While he finished a lost Cardinals season on the injured list (back spasms) it was yet another healthy campaign for the veteran. That said, his 144 games and 612 plate appearances were his fewest since 2014. He went from 42 doubles in 2022 to 28 in 2023 while his walk rate dropped to just 6.7%, his lowest since 2015. He also ranked in the 39th percentile or worse in average exit velocity, barrel rate, hard-hit rate, and sweet-spot rate. His defense was very good but both FanGraphs and Statcast delivered poorer grades than usual. Add it up and we have a veteran player who has been remarkably durable with plenty of wear and tear on his body. A rebound season isn't out of the question but Arenado represents a risky bet at a 97.26 ADP with younger third-base names such as Bregman, Jung, Steer, and Paredes lingering behind.
