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Cardinals' Nolan Arenado Announces News After 31 Straight Missed Games

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Sep 5, 2025 6:43 PM ET

The St. Louis Cardinals are moving in an entirely different direction as an organization, with Chaim Bloom set to take over as president of baseball operations in the offseason.

As the team trends toward a youth movement, Nolan Arenado’s future with the club remains uncertain.

The 34-year-old veteran has had by far the worst year of his 13-year career in 2025, batting .235 with a .660 OPS and just ten home runs across 96 games.

Arenado has been dealing with right shoulder inflammation for most of the season, and with the pain not subsiding, the team placed him on the injured list on August 1—a factor that may have contributed to his struggles at the plate.

Nolan Arenado Injury Update

With many fans questioning whether Arenado has suited up for the final time as a Cardinal, he recently returned to St. Louis to meet with team doctors after rehabbing at the club’s spring training facility in Florida.

Arenado announced that he would begin a rehab assignment, with the plan to return for the Cardinals’ final homestand against the Cincinnati Reds beginning 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.

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.
— Jeff Jones (@jmjones) September 5, 2025

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.

And for Cardinals fans, if these are indeed his final two weeks with the team, it would be a chance to give him a proper sendoff and appreciation for his contributions over the past five seasons—including multiple playoff appearances and three All-Star selections.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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