MLB analyst gives verdict on Paul Goldschmidt - Nolan Arenado era in St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals will potentially part ways with two of their infield corners in Paul Goldschmidt, the first baseman who agreed to a one-year, $12.5 million contract with the New York Yankees and Nolan Arenado, the third baseman who could be traded this offseason by the club.

On Tuesday's episode of Cardinals Territory, MLB analyst Katie Woo and Travis Rosenthal discussed the journey of Arenado and Goldschmidt with the Cardinals. Though big things were expected by both All-Stars, things didn't turn out exactly as they would have liked.

"I think you're spot-on, and I'm not sure how the Goldschmidt era will be remembered in St. Louis," Woo said (7:55 onwards). "I hope it'll be remembered fondly. But, you know, one of the last conversations we had in 2024, he spoke about the last four years where the Goldschmidt-Nolan Arenado era really took force.

"Come early 2021, people were so, so excited about it, and you fast forward four years later—they played in just three playoff games and didn’t win a single one."

Paul Goldschmidt's disappointing mindset even after winning the 2022 MVP speaks volumes

Paul Goldschmidt had an incredible 2022 season, winning the National League MVP. Yet, he considers that season his most disappointing due to the team’s failure to capitalize on their potential. Woo recounts the heartbreaking ninth inning in the Wild Card Series against the Phillies as a way to sum up Goldschmidt's era.

"The Cardinals, in my opinion, looked like they were going to make a deep run in 2022," Woo said. "And then that very ill-fated ninth inning—two outs away—Game 1 against the Phillies in the Wild Card Series. Cardinals fans don’t need me to rehash this; it just kind of derailed everything.

"So to hear him speak to his disappointment and to call 2022 his most disappointing year—I thought that said a lot. I think that kind of sums up the Goldschmidt era. It’s complicated, right? ... At the end of the day, both he and Nolan fell short of their expectations here."

The Cardinals seem to be in a rebuild mode and though the franchise has been one of the most successful in the majors, their inability to keep up with the rest of teams has rendered them noncompetitive in the last few seasons.