Nolan Arenado -- Trade Rumors

Nolan Arenado was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks from the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday, marking the end of an extended shopping process that began over a year ago. The eight-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner, who turns 35 in April, brings elite defensive experience at third base but has struggled offensively in recent years, batting .237 with 12 homers and 52 RBIs last season. More significantly, Arenado's primary motivation for the trade is to finally achieve postseason success—he has recorded just 5 hits in 33 playoff at-bats across 13 seasons, a stark contrast to his Hall of Fame-caliber regular season resume.

Arenado stated the trade caught him off guard despite the prolonged negotiations, and that he was receptive to joining Arizona because he believes the young Diamondbacks roster—featuring Corbin Carroll, Ketel Marte, and Geraldo Perdomo—has genuine postseason potential. The Cardinals confirmed the trade was amicable, with team president Chaim Bloom indicating that St. Louis (78-84 in 2024) needed to enter a rebuilding phase and move established players to develop younger talent. Arenado is already engaging with Diamondbacks coaching staff on swing adjustments and expects a bounce-back offensive season while providing experience and above-average defense on a franchise seeking to return to October play for the first time since reaching the 2023 World Series.

The Cardinals traded aging third baseman Nolan Arenado and a sizeable amount of cash to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday for right-handed pitching prospect Jack Martinez. The move is part of the Cardinals' full-scale rebuild in 2026, following previous trades of veterans Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras for prospect hauls. Arenado, who is still owed $42 million, agreed to waive his no-trade clause to join the D-backs. This marks a significant shift from December 2024 when Arenado invoked that same clause to block a potential deal to the Houston Astros.

Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom met with Arenado in late September, and both agreed it was the right time to find a new team. Bloom stated in a release: "We are grateful for Nolan's five years as a Cardinal, on and off the field -- for his drive, his competitiveness and for all of the memories he gave us." Arenado, one of only two players in MLB history to win 10 Gold Glove Awards in his first 10 seasons, is seeking to play for a World Series contender in the latter stages of his career.