SAN DIEGO, Calif. — The San Diego Padres were among the teams engaged in trade discussions for Nolan Arenado before the St. Louis Cardinals finalized a deal sending the eight-time All-Star to the Arizona Diamondbacks, according to a report from The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. San Diego ultimately did not complete a deal, with Arizona emerging as the club that reached an agreement with St. Louis.

Breaking: The Diamondbacks are acquiring eight-time All-Star Nolan Arenado in a trade with the Cardinals, sources told @JeffPassan.

Arenado has agreed to waive his no-trade clause and the deal is done. The Athletic was first to report the deal was close.

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Rosenthal reported that the Padres were effectively the runner-up in negotiations. San Diego’s proposed roster alignment would have kept Manny Machado at third base while shifting Arenado to first, providing flexibility in the infield and reinforcing the team’s defense. Talks, however, did not advance to completion as the Padres were unwilling to assume as much of Arenado’s remaining contract as Arizona.

In the trade that sent Arenado to the Diamondbacks, the Cardinals agreed to cover $31 million of the approximately $42 million left on the veteran’s deal over the next two seasons. In return, St. Louis received pitching prospect Jack Martinez. Arizona agreed to take on the remaining salary, completing the transaction without including multiple top prospects.

Arenado, now 34, has been on the trade block for more than a year. Last season, he used his no-trade clause to block a potential deal to the Houston Astros, keeping him in St. Louis through the 2025 campaign. 

His most recent season represented a notable downturn offensively, as he posted a .237/.289/.377 slash line with 12 home runs and 52 RBIs across 107 games. Those numbers marked his lowest offensive output since his rookie year, though he continued to provide strong defense at third base.

Despite the decline at the plate, Arenado remains one of the most decorated defensive infielders of his generation, with 10 Gold Glove Awards and six Platinum Gloves to his name. Arizona’s acquisition reflects a calculated move to add experience and elite defense while betting on a rebound with the bat.

San Diego has remained active in both trade and free-agent markets as it seeks to bolster its roster ahead of the 2026 season. The Cardinals, in turn, gained salary relief while acquiring pitching prospect Jack Martinez. By covering a substantial portion of Arenado’s remaining contract, St. Louis was able to finalize a deal with a National League West team before Spring Training.

Although San Diego did not complete a trade, its involvement underscores the competitiveness surrounding Arenado. Ultimately, Arizona’s agreement to assume a larger share of the remaining salary allowed the Diamondbacks to secure the veteran infielder and integrate him into their roster.