Arenado embraces playing for perennial contender in Cardinals

DENVER

Nolan Arenado hasn’t expressed this much optimism since signing his $260 million contract with Colorado two years ago.

“Excited” was the term the slugging, slick-fielding third baseman used about a dozen times Tuesday at his introductory news conference following his blockbuster trade from the Rockies to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Excited to join a team that’s always in the playoff picture. Excited to join an organization with such rich history.

Left unsaid but just underneath the surface: Excited to flee a franchise that posted just two winning records during his eight years in Denver and never advanced beyond the NL Division Series.

The eight-time Gold Glove winner and five-time All-Star forced his way out of Colorado by steadfastly sticking to a request to be traded. He’ll be suiting up for a Cardinals team thinking about an NL Central title and more, while the Rockies are looking at some variation of a rebuild in front of a frustrated fanbase.

“They really care about winning,” Arenado said of the Cardinals. “That’s all they talk about. It’s really awesome to be a part of. It’s a little different — we’re hopeful we can win the division title and it feels good knowing we have a chance to do that — a good chance.”