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DALLAS — Third base has quickly become the hot topic of discussion for the Cardinals this “hot stove” season, particularly as it pertains to eight-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove Award winner Nolan Arenado and his future in 51����.

Depending upon your perspective, Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak either added heat to the situation with his straightforward comments on Monday, or he simply acknowledged the already rising temperature.

Mozeliak’s declaration that he intends to try to trade Arenado this winter likely directly affects the future of the Cardinals’ other Nolan. If the Cardinals execute an Arenado trade, Nolan Gorman instantly becomes a front-runner to take over at third base.

When asked about Gorman’s best fit defensively with the current roster, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol hedged.

“It’s hard to speak to that definitively,” Marmol said. “We don’t know what our roster is going to look like in a few weeks. Once we get past some of this, we’ll have a better understanding. But right now, he’s ready to do whatever he’s asked to do, and he’s in a good head space to be able to do that.”

Regarding the specific fit at third base for Gorman, Marmol walked a tightrope and tacitly acknowledged the fit without disregarding the fact that Arenado remains a Cardinal for the moment.

“He feels comfortable at multiple positions — third, second,” Marmol said of Gorman. “He came up as a third baseman. He’s obviously done a nice job at second. He turns a good double play. He’ll do whatever he’s asked to, and he’s in a good spot, mentally, to be able to do it.”

Coming off a productive season in 2023 when he led the team in home runs (27) and slugging percentage (.478), Gorman had wildly varying stretches at the plate in 2024.

Gorman, 24, slashed .196/.261/.363 with four home runs through his first 28 games (26 starts). Then the left-handed-hitting slugger’s offense picked up in May to the tune of a .242/.359/.561 with six home runs in 21 games (19 starts). After a dreadful June, he again experienced an uptick in July (.262/.304/.477 in 20 games).

However, his at-bats featured too much swing-and-miss. He registered a whiff rate of 38.7% and a strikeout rate of 37.6%, both among the bottom 1% in the majors.

Ultimately, Gorman’s struggles outweighed his periods of success this past season, and he ultimately finished the year back in the minors.

Both Mozeliak and Marmol expressed optimism in the impact newly hired hitting coach Brant Brown will have on Gorman’s performance this coming season. Brown has already made a trip to Arizona and spent time with Gorman since joining the coaching staff in late October.

“I think he’s in a really good spot; Brownie was able to spend some time with him and just candidly speak to what he feels, what he feels hasn’t gone well,” Marmol said.

“Here is what I like about Brownie: He’s able to speak different languages in a sense of if someone is a highly analytical, he’s able to speak to that. If someone is more off feel he’s able to speak to the swing and has a really, really good understanding of that swing. If someone wants to just talk about mechanics, he can do that. He’s been able to relate to a variety of our guys how they like taking in information.”

In Gorman’s case, that means understanding how Gorman’s “gather” plays a crucial role in his success or lack thereof in the batter’s box. Marmol characterized Brown’s ability to speak to that as “amazing.”

Not only did Gorman begin his professional career in the minors as a third baseman, but defensive metrics show that Gorman struggles more when fielding balls hit to his right. At third base, the foul line is to Gorman’s right and cuts down the amount of territory he’ll have to cover in that direction.

Gorman’s fit at third also potentially opens up more time at second base for Brendan Donovan, who improved defensively at that position this past season. Intriguing prospect Thomas Saggese, who the Cardinals acquired at the trade deadline in 2023, also seems to fit best defensively at second base.

If the old adage about needing power hitters at the corner infield positions still applies, Gorman might be the biggest power threat the Cardinals currently have along with Willson Contreras. This coming season, Contreras will shift from catcher to first base.

In a season that the Cardinals profess will be about opportunity for their young players, Gorman and third base almost seem a destined match.

“Nolan Gorman, what is he if he gets 550 plate appearances,” Mozeliak said. “Is he going to be someone that can put up 35 home runs but still have a strong on-base percentage and slug to go with it or is it going to be too much swing and miss? If he becomes the hitter we believe he’s capable of, we believe he can be that middle-of-the-order bat.”

How did Mozeliak respond to notion of it being difficult to find the sort of playing time that will grant Gorman 550 at-bats with the current roster?

“It’s not hard, ultimately, the roster is going to have to change a little bit,” Mozeliak said. “As far as mapping it out as we’re currently constructed, you could argue it is (hard), but my point is the roster is going to change between now and the time we get to February.”