When the Nolan Arenado trade talk began in earnest last offseason, the superstar third baseman told the St. Louis Cardinals that he’d only waive his no-trade clause for approximately five teams.

Arenado increased the number to eight this offseason, sensing that the need to move him had intensified. One of those additions was the Diamondbacks. The interest was mutual, and Arenado was shipped to Arizona on Tuesday, in exchange for a prospect and $11 million in salary relief from the remaining $42 million on his contract.

“Seeing where (the Cardinals) were headed the past few years, it was very evident that there’s a step they need to take,” Arenado said during his introductory news conference. “Letting these young guys go and finding out who they are, and who their identity is.

“I think I’m just kind of in the way of that, in a sense. I kind of always felt like that last year.”

Arenado said when he opted into the remainder of his eight-year, $260 million contract, it was because he intended to finish his career in St. Louis, which had traded for him before that season.

Yet in 2025, the 34-year-old had his worst statistical season, posting just a .666 OPS. He dealt with injuries, which had been a rarity during his first 12 big-league seasons. The Cardinals, who won fewer than 80 games for just the second time since 2007, shifted into a rebuild, and the partnership began making less sense.

“I loved my time there,” Arenado said. “The conversations I had with (Cardinals president of baseball operations) Chaim (Bloom) were very much, ‘We want to let some of these young guys play.’ Not that I’m in the way. But we need to see what we have.”

Arenado said he added the Diamondbacks to his trade list because they’re relatively close to his Orange County, Calif., home, and he has family in Phoenix.

The Diamondbacks playing in a hitter-friendly park helped as well, with Arenado complimenting the Chase Field batter’s eye. Joining a club that already has many of their building blocks on the big-league roster was also an important factor.

“They’re a good team, they play hard,” Arenado said. “They’re young, but I feel like I can really help this team win ballgames. Being around good, young, hungry players helps me stay young.”

While Arenado’s offense has been in a fairly consistent decline for years, he believes there’s more in the tank offensively and attributed some of those more recent failures to developing bad habits.

Arenado said the issues were largely mechanical, noting that he wasn’t moving properly. Some of the changes he’s implementing will “quiet” his head to see the ball better, create space for him “to work out front again” and be in a better position to pull the ball.

“I have high expectations for myself on both sides of the ball,” he said.

While he didn’t want to use the loss in St. Louis as an excuse, Arenado didn’t fully dismiss tying his own failures to the team.

St. Louis has missed the playoffs each of the last three years, but qualified in the four years prior, and nine of the previous 12 years. Attendance has dropped, many of the most popular superstars have moved on and the franchise has been in a state of malaise.

“It was tough losing,” Arenado said. “When you see Busch Stadium not packed, that was a tough feeling. When I got traded there … it was really packed. It was loud, it gets a lot of fun there. I appreciate those fans for even showing up when they did.

“Besides that, I’m excited. When you have a new chapter in front of you, it gives you a little bit of energy.”