Cardinals' Oli Marmol Announces Nolan Arenado Update on Monday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Sep 1, 2025 1:35 PM ET

The St. Louis Cardinals’ season has been derailed by injuries, entering September with a 68–70 record and sitting far out of postseason contention after spending much of the year in the wild card race.

Third baseman and clubhouse leader Nolan Arenado notably missed the entire month of August while dealing with a right shoulder strain.

The 34-year-old veteran struggled when he did appear in games this year for St. Louis, and he’s emphasized that shoulder pain had been an issue for most of the season.

While the exact impact of the injury on his performance is unclear, his numbers were the worst of his 13-year career: a .235 batting average, .294 on-base percentage, .660 OPS, 10 home runs, and 43 RBIs over 96 games.

Nolan Arenado Injury Update

Arenado has been rehabbing and ramping up baseball activities at the organization’s spring training facility in Florida. After making progress, he was expected to meet with Cardinals team doctors to determine whether he could return this season.

On Monday, before a game against the Athletics, manager Oli Marmol confirmed that Arenado would travel to St. Louis on Wednesday and be evaluated on Thursday.

“#STLCards 3B Nolan Arenado (shoulder strain) will be in St. Louis on Wednesday and he will be examined by team doctors on Thursday,” wrote MLB.com’s John Denton.
“If cleared, he will work out with the team in the pregame on Thursday and then possibly go out on a rehab assignment.”

#STLCards 3B Nolan Arenado (shoulder strain) will be in St. Louis on Wednesday and he will be examined by team doctors on Thursday, manager Oli Marmol said. If cleared, he will work out with the team in the pregame on Thursday and then possibly go out on a rehab assignment.
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) September 1, 2025

With the Cardinals no longer in the hunt, there are still several reasons to insert Arenado back into the lineup and log a quality final month before heading into the offseason:

Evaluate whether Arenado can return to the offensive production he posted during his 2023 All-Star season
Assess his current value to the organization, especially with trade rumors surrounding him for months
Potentially fuel a late surge for a wild card spot, as the Cardinals remain technically within striking distance (5.5 games back)
Reinforce his presence in the clubhouse, which is essential for the young core’s development as the organization undergoes changes

Arenado’s return is not guaranteed, as he still needs to pass Thursday’s medical evaluation. But if cleared, his presence would be a meaningful boost for a franchise looking to reset and regroup heading into 2026.

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

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