ST. LOUIS — The applause had barely subsided after an emotional shutout victory over the Padres when a pressing question arose in the Cardinals’ internal meeting room: “Do we keep the soul of the team, or do we sell our hope and gamble on an unknown future?”
According to multiple reliable sources, the St. Louis Cardinals are seriously considering parting ways with two pillars: Nolan Arenado and Sonny Gray — two names once considered untouchable in the team’s soul structure. But now, all are on the table.
When the Cardinals’ Heart is on the Scale
Nolan Arenado — the man who has carried the offense and symbolized the Cardinals’ “win-now” spirit for the past three seasons. And Sonny Gray, the veteran ace with a never-say-die attitude, is still playing hard even though his 34th birthday weighs heavily on every pitch.
But the current reality does not allow for dreaming. The Cardinals are behind the Cubs and Brewers in the NL Central, less than two games out of the wild-card spot, but also face a fragile future: keep the core to fight until the end — or accept “sale” to start from scratch?
A decision that could tear the heart of the city apart
Inside sources say that if an offer is “deep enough,” the Cardinals leadership will not hesitate to “bleed” — and that means the team could fall into a rebuilding cycle for the first time in nearly a decade.
“We love Nolan and Sonny, but the team has to think long-term. The right prospect at the right time can change the organization,” said a person in the team’s analytics department. But fans don’t think so.
The hashtag #KeepArenado has been trending on social media, with many fans calling him “the last remaining soul” since Yadier Molina and Albert Pujols left.
“We’re not just losing a player if we let Nolan go. We’re losing the feeling that this is our team,” one longtime fan wrote on X (Twitter).
Sonny Gray: “I’m not ready to give up on this”
In response to the news, Sonny Gray had an emotional reaction after the win over the Padres:
“I don’t know what’s going to happen. But I know I still have fire. And if these are my last days with the Cardinals… I want to end it with a win.”
Gray currently has an ERA under 3.40 in over 100 innings — enough to make teams like the Yankees, Orioles, or Braves “pounce” on him at the last minute.
Rebuild or fight?
Both choices are painful. One is the fragile but emotional dream of the postseason, the other is the strategic sobriety to not sink deeper into the middle of the cycle. The Cardinals have less than four days to decide before the MLB transfer window closes on July 31.
And as the clock ticks down, the entire city of St. Louis can only wait — anxiously, regretfully, and hopefully — that they are not about to say goodbye to their hearts.