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Cardinals World Series Odds Improve to +2000 with Acquisition of Arenado

Robert Duff

by Robert Duff in MLB Baseball

Updated Feb 3, 2021 · 10:16 AM PST

Nolan\ Arenado making a throw
Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado throws to first during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Denver. A person familiar with the swap tells The Associated Press that the St. Louis Cardinals have agreed to acquire All-Star third baseman Arenado from the Rockies in a trade needing approvals before it can be finalized. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
  • The St. Louis Cardinals are acquiring All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado from the Colorado Rockies in a trade
  • The still is pending, needing approvals before it can be finalized
  • News of the addition of Arenado saw the 2021 World Series odds on the Cardinals shortening from +4000 to +2000

The St. Louis Cardinals always seem to to hang around each season in playoff contention. Thanks to the pending addition of all-star third baseman Nolan Arenado, oddsmakers are suddenly more certain that the Cards will do more than just hover near postseason play.

There’s been speculation of an Arenado move to St. Louis for a couple a years. While final details are still being worked out before the deal can become official, news of the transation was causing plenty of movement in the 2021 World Series odds of the Cardinals.

St. Louis wasn’t even a top-15 contender on Friday, listing at odds of +4000. Today, St. Louis has cracked the top 10. The betting line on the Cardinals shortened to +2000.

2021 World Series Odds

Team Odds
Los Angeles Dodgers +450
New York Yankees +550
San Diego Padres +800
Chicago White Sox +950
Atlanta Braves +1000
New York Mets +1200
Oakland Athletics +1800
St. Louis Cardinals +2000
Tampa Bay Rays +2000
Minnesota Twins +2000
Houston Astros +2000
Cincinnati Reds +2500
Toronto Blue Jays +2500
Washington Nationals +2800
Philadelphia Phillies +3000

Odds as of Jan. 30th at DraftKings.

The Cards have qualified for postseason play in each of the last two seasons and seven of the past 10 years. St. Louis played in the World Series in 2013 and won the World Series in 2011.

Arenado Provides Excellence

The deal between the Cardinals and Colorado Rockies is expected to involve cash and multiple players, with Arenado coming to St. Louis being the linchpin to the package. He’ll need to waive his no-trade clause to make the move happen, but that’s not expected to be an issue.

Arenado, 29, is an eight-time National League all-star selection. The third baseman is also an ideal fit into the tradtional St. Louis identity of pitching and defense. He’s won Gold Gloves in every one of his eight seasons with the Rockies.

At the plate, Arenado figures to slot into the clean-up position in the batting order, right behind Paul Goldschmidt, also a St. Louis trade addition in 2018. Slowed by soreness in the A/C joint of his left shoulder last season, Arenado hit a career-low .253 with eight homers.

However that came after enjoying a career year in  2019. That season saw Arenado finishing with a .315 batting average, 41 homers and 118 RBIs.

Cardinals Clear NL Central Favorites

One thing about St. Louis is the team is trying to win the division every year. The Cardinals have posted 13 consecutive winning seasons.

The NL Central was certainly up for grabs prior to this move. A case could be made for any of the Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds or Milwaukee Brewers.

Today, it’s the Cardinals who are sitting as the clear favorites. The addition of Arenado isn’t just the biggest move by an NL Central club, it’s arguably the biggest move made by any NL ball club during the offseason.

St. Louis Loading Up

Along with Arenado, the Cardinals also announced the signing of veteran pitcher Adam Wainwright this week. The two-time 20-game winner was 5-3 with a 3.15 ERA and an NL-leading two complete games last season.

As well, there was speculation that catcher Yadier Molina would be rejoining the Cards for an 18th season. He’s a nine-time all-star selection.

In four of the past seven World Series, the NL representative wasn’t the league’s top playoff seed. Risking a small stipend on the Cardinals to win the fall classic isn’t an absurd notion.

Pick: St. Louis Cardinals (+2000)

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