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Arenado unlikely to use opt-outs: 'I plan on being a Cardinal'

Dustin Bradford / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Though he's only been in red for a couple of weeks, Nolan Arenado's quickly taken to life with the St. Louis Cardinals.

His contract includes two opt-out clauses, including one at the end of this season. However, the star third baseman - acquired by the Cardinals from the Colorado Rockies earlier in February - indicated that he's unlikely to exercise the clauses when the time comes.

"There's a very high chance I will not be opting out," Arenado recently told Jared Carrabis and Dallas Braden on the "Starting 9" podcast. "You know, very, very high. I didn't come here to do that. I think (the opt-outs were) part of the deal, that was part of how we made the contract and how we made it look right and put those things in there, but I plan on being a Cardinal for the rest of the way out, that's my goal.

"I said that in Colorado and so I can see why people could probably question it, but you know, I really believe this is where I wanna be."

Arenado originally signed his eight-year, $260-million extension with Colorado before the 2019 season. But his relationship with the Rockies soured, leading them to trade him before he could potentially walk away this winter. Colorado received five players in exchange for Arenado and $51 million.

For waiving his no-trade clause to facilitate the deal, the Cardinals agreed to give Arenado a second opt-out clause after the 2022 season. He also got a one-year, $15-million extension through 2027.

The 29-year-old has won eight Gold Gloves and made five All-Star teams during his career.

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