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FILE – St. Louis Cardinals’ Nolan Arenado celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo\/Erin Hooley, File)<\/p>\n
PHOENIX \u2014 The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired eight-time All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado in a trade Tuesday with the St. Louis Cardinals, adding an accomplished veteran to a team trying to return to the playoffs for the first time since a surprise World Series run in 2023.<\/p>\n
St. Louis received minor league pitcher Jack Martinez in the deal. The rebuilding Cardinals are will be sending $31 million to the D-backs to offset the $42 million Arenado is owed over the next two seasons.<\/p>\n
A 10-time Gold Glove winner, Arenado has played for the Cardinals the past five seasons and was shopped extensively after the 2024 season and this offseason. The 34-year-old isn\u2019t the offensive force he used to be but will still provide experience at the position after the D-backs dealt slugger Eugenio Su\u00e1rez at last season\u2019s trade deadline.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve always liked the way he\u2019s played the game and the impact he can have when he\u2019s not playing,\u201d Arizona general manager Mike Hazen said. \u201cI think he\u2019s a good fit. I know how much winning means to him and is important to him \u2014 and it\u2019s important to us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Arenado batted .237 with 12 homers and 52 RBIs last season and has two years and $42 million remaining on a contract paying him $275 million for nine years. He is owed $27 million this year and $15 million in 2027.<\/p>\n
St. Louis agreed to send Arizona $22 million to offset this season\u2019s salary \u2014 $2,666,666.67 on the 15th of each month from April to September \u2014 and $9 million on Nov. 1, 2027.<\/p>\n
Arenado waived a no-trade provision to accept the deal.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the best that\u2019s ever done what he does in the field and at the plate,\u201d Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said. \u201cHe\u2019s someone who really appreciates this town as a baseball town at its best. He\u2019s a relentless competitor and someone who really wants to win.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bloom it wasn\u2019t fun to trade someone the caliber of Arenado, whom he thinks will be voted to baseball\u2019s Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s baseball royalty right there,\u201d Bloom said. \u201cWe\u2019re mindful of that, but at the same time, a lot of what comes with this chair is not letting emotion, sentiment and nostalgia override executing what\u2019s best for this team and being fully committed on where we need to go.\u201d<\/p>\n
Arenado was one of the few veteran pieces that remained on the Cardinals, who are building for the future with a young lineup that includes Masyn Winn, Brendan Donovan and Alec Burleson.<\/p>\n
For the Diamondbacks, the move is reminiscent of 2023, when Hazen signed third baseman Evan Longoria to a $4 million, one-year deal. Longoria was at the end of a long and successful career, providing 11 homers and solid defense in a part-time role as Arizona made it all the way to the Fall Classic before losing to the Texas Rangers.<\/p>\n
Arenado projects as the D-backs\u2019 starting third baseman with young players like Blaze Alexander and Jordan Lawlar as other options.<\/p>\n
Both Alexander and Lawlar can play other positions, including second base, shortstop and the outfield.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe look for him to be a solid offensive contributor in our lineup,\u201d Hazen said of Arenado. \u201cWith the firepower we have at the top of our lineup, we\u2019re not looking for him to carry the offense. We don\u2019t need him to carry the offense. We need him to solidify and stabilize our defense \u2014 that\u2019s a huge component to this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Arizona also has looked for help at first base. Hazen said he hasn\u2019t discussed a potential role at first base for Arenado, but didn\u2019t rule out the possibility.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure we\u2019ll sit down and digest all this with him,\u201d Hazen said. \u201cThe last 24 hours has been kind of a whirlwind. I\u2019m sure we\u2019ll tackle anything and everything as it relates to the team. I look forward to spending a little more time with him and walking through how the team is constructed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Martinez was an eighth round pick by the D-backs out of Arizona State in 2025.<\/p>\n
Arenado is a career .282 hitter and has 353 homers over 13 seasons with the Cardinals and Rockies.<\/p>\n
Retooling St. Louis has agreed to pay $59 million in three trades this offseason, sending pitcher Sonny Gray and catcher Willson Contreras to Boston in separate deals. The Cardinals will pay Boston $20 million as part of the Gray trade and owe $8 million to Boston this Sept. 15 in the Contreras deal. The total is offset by $5 million St. Louis will receive from Colorado, the final payment of $51 million the Rockies agreed to give the Cardinals in the February 2021 trade that sent Arenado to St. Louis.<\/p>\n
St. Louis also finalized a one-year contract with right-handed reliever Ryne Stanek that includes a club option for 2027. This will be the 34-year-old\u2019s sixth MLB team over 10 seasons.<\/p>\n
Stanek was 4-6 with a 5.30 ERA and 58 strikeouts over 65 appearances with the New York Mets last season.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n COLUMBUS, Ohio \u2014 It didn’t take much time for Rick Bowness to show that he was rested and ready to return behind …<\/p>\n