In a recent interview at Citi Field with MLB.comĄŻs Bill Ladson, Nolan Arenado discussed a wide range of topics from the strong possibility of getting dealt before the Trade Deadline to the chance of Hall of Fame induction.
MLB.com: You are off to a good start in the batterĄŻs box and with the glove. What are you doing differently than what you did last year?
Arenado: IĄŻm in a better position right now with my body. The body feels good. I feel like IĄŻm able to repeat some things right now that I had trouble repeating last year. IĄŻm just trying to maintain it.
MLB.com: What couldnĄŻt you do last year?
Arenado: As you get older, you make sure you keep up with some fast-twitch muscle stuff, workouts and training. I tried to implement that more and maintain it.
MLB.com: I heard you lost some weight, too.
Arenado: Being lean has a lot to do with it. I probably lost five to six pounds. It feels a little bit lighter. I ate a lot cleaner. Laid off the carbs late at night. ThatĄŻs helped me a little bit.
MLB.com: You turned 34 this past Wednesday. How much do you have left in the tank?
Arenado: I donĄŻt know. I like the way I feel right now. I feel like I have a lot left in the tank. I feel I have a lot of good baseball left in me. I feel like IĄŻm showing that now. ItĄŻs a long season, obviously. IĄŻm going to try to maintain it. I think there is a better feeling to what IĄŻm doing now. I continue to get better and thatĄŻs what IĄŻm striving for.
MLB.com: You have a bWAR of 57.1, which is higher than Hall of Famers such as Pie Traynor and George Kell. Are you a Hall of Famer?
Arenado: IĄŻm happy to have that discussion. I know people talk about it a lot more, obviously, when you are older and proven enough. You know what? I donĄŻt know if I am or not. I feel I have a lot left in the game, so weĄŻll see at the end of it where IĄŻm at.
MLB.com: As you look back, can you believe all the Gold Gloves you won and the production you put up at the plate?
Arenado: You donĄŻt realize what you have until itĄŻs gone. I havenĄŻt won the Gold Glove in the past two years. Sometimes, when I look back on my time, I canĄŻt believe I was able to do that, but I still want more. IĄŻm still chasing more and IĄŻm hopeful to accomplish it.
MLB.com: What else do you want to accomplish?
Arenado: I just want to be productive. I want to win. I would like to play and perform in the playoffs. I havenĄŻt had many opportunities. But the opportunities that IĄŻve had, I havenĄŻt done much. I would like to get back there and hopefully play better.
MLB.com: The Cardinals are getting younger. What are your feelings about the team and how good are they?
Arenado: I think the organization wants to see what we have. We are still trying to be competitive. There is a lot of development going on and there are a lot of players that need to go out there and show who they are. They have to continue to do that. WeĄŻll see where we end up.
MLB.com: As far as the young players go, who has impressed you the most?
Arenado: Lars Nootbaar has been great. Brendan Donovan has been a stud. Victor Scott II has taken [positive] strides compared to last year. He is a totally different player. Jordan Walker is working hard in the outfield. He is getting better. Masyn Winn has a chance to be great. He has a lot of tools. These guys all have a chance to be good. ItĄŻs just a matter of putting in the work.
MLB.com: You are the veteran of this club. Do you think you will be with the Cardinals to guide these guys?
Arenado: I donĄŻt know. WeĄŻll see. We are playing hard right now. I think we are doing a good job. We still have to win a little bit more, compete a little bit better. Hopefully we can get on a [winning] streak here. If not, I would assume they would want to let these young guys run and go.
I know they donĄŻt feel IĄŻm in the way of that, but at the same time, sooner or later, you have to make a decision. I donĄŻt mean this in a bad way, but IĄŻm not part of their future plans. IĄŻm older. ThatĄŻs just part of it. When I say future plans, IĄŻm talking about the next five years, plus. I understand that. Hopefully, we are winning so we can add at the Deadline. If not, IĄŻm assuming some questions will arise.
MLB.com: Before last winter, all I heard about was your great defense and your production at the plate. But this past offseason was about the possibility of getting traded. Did all the reports about a deal bother you?
Arenado: It didnĄŻt bother me. Ą So I guess when you know something is coming, it doesnĄŻt really bother you that much because you are prepared for it. ItĄŻs OK. ItĄŻs part of it.
MLB.com: You had a chance to be traded to the Astros before the season started. Why didnĄŻt you go?
Arenado: Obviously, I respect Houston with what they have done. They have been one of the best organizations for a very long time. At the time, I never said no [to the trade]. At the time, the Astros wanted a decision and I couldnĄŻt make it.
MLB.com: What did you want to wait on?
Arenado: ItĄŻs fair to say I wanted to see what Alex Bregman wanted to do. I didnĄŻt know how long it was going to take. That was kind of the gist of it. At the time, I had to make a decision. I wasnĄŻt prepared to do that.
MLB.com: After your playing career is over, what do you want to do with your life?
Arenado: I want to golf a lot and take family trips. I want to go skiing and do things I was never able to do because of baseball. I would still like to stay in baseball. I would like to coach in college baseball.
MLB.com: Why college baseball?
Arenado: I like college baseball because there isnĄŻt a lot of politics to it. There is probably more now with the NIL [Name, Image, and Likeness]. ItĄŻs really about winning. Every game really matters. If I can do it somewhere close to home, I feel like I could help give the things IĄŻve learned and share it with these young players.