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The Diamondbacks have agreed to a trade with the Cardinals to add Nolan Arenado, who would add a potential future Hall of Famer on the back end of his career.
The Arizona Diamondbacks have reportedly agreed to a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals to acquire 34-year-old third baseman Nolan Arenado. This move brings a potential future Hall of Famer to the D-backs lineup. In exchange, the Diamondbacks are sending pitching prospect Jack Martinez, a recent draft pick from Arizona State. Reports indicate that Arenado agreed to waive his no-trade clause to facilitate the deal. This acquisition resolves the D-backs' starting third base position for the upcoming season, offering flexibility for promising young infielders like Blaze Alexander and Jordan Lawlar, who could potentially be deployed in other roles, including the outfield. Arenado himself has previously indicated a willingness to play first base if needed.
Nolan Arenado is a highly decorated MLB veteran, boasting a 13-year career highlighted by eight All-Star selections, an impressive 10 Gold Gloves, six Platinum Gloves, and consistent recognition with six top-10 finishes for the National League MVP award. During his prime with the Colorado Rockies, he was renowned for his Brooks Robinson-esque defensive prowess and his consistent power, hitting between 30-42 home runs annually from 2015-2022. While he approaches his 35th birthday in April, marking a different phase of his career, he is coming off a challenging season with a career-low .666 OPS. Arenado's contract runs for two more years, with the Diamondbacks committed to paying approximately $16 million in 2026 and $15 million in 2027. However, the Cardinals are significantly subsidizing the deal, with Arizona only responsible for $5 million in 2026 and $6 million in 2027. This substantial retention by the Cardinals underlines their rebuilding strategy, having previously retained significant salaries in other trades. The D-backs' acquisition of Arenado follows their recent decision to retain star second baseman Ketel Marte, which had precluded them from pursuing other free agent third basemen like Alex Bregman, who subsequently signed with the Chicago Cubs. Arenado now joins a core D-backs lineup that includes Marte, Corbin Carroll, Gabriel Moreno, and Geraldo Perdomo, potentially setting the stage for a Paul Goldschmidt reunion.
Examining Nolan Arenado's recent performance, over the past three years, he has averaged 2.4 wins above replacement (WAR) per 162 games, alongside a .725 OPS and 18 home runs per season. His 2025 season saw him slash .237/.289/.377 with 12 home runs in 107 games, partly due to a right shoulder sprain. The Diamondbacks are hoping for a resurgence in his offensive production to strengthen the middle of their batting order. Despite a recent decline in his contact quality, as evidenced by his 86.8 mph exit velocity (ranking in the bottom 10% of the league last season), Arenado demonstrates a positive trait of putting the ball in play, with a career-low strikeout rate of 11.2% (excluding the 2020 shortened season). His tendency to pull the ball in the air at a high rate (25% in 2025) is an attribute that should play favorably at Chase Field. Even in 2024, he maintained an average bat with a .719 OPS and 16 home runs. Defensively, while not the "otherworldly" player he once was, he remains a highly effective third baseman, accumulating six defensive runs saved and three outs above average last season, with a mere five errors—the fewest among 18 third basemen with at least 750 innings. With significant experience in the NL West from his years with Colorado (2013-2020), Arenado has played 77 games at Chase Field, where he boasts an impressive .841 OPS and 13 home runs. He is eighth on the active players leaderboard for both games played and career home runs (353). While his teams have made the postseason four times, Arenado is still seeking his first World Series appearance.