NEWS: 3B Nolan Arenado traded to Arizona

After spending the past couple of seasons on a perpetual trading block, Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado was dealt to the Diamondbacks on Jan. 13 in a deal that sends the fading former superstar to Arizona for a 22-year-old pitching prospect.

The Cards get right-hander Jack Martinez, an eighth-round pick in the 2025 MLB draft. Arenado, who waived his no-trade clause, is owed $42 million over the next two seasons. Arizona will receive $31 million plus $6 million in deferred money payable in 2040-41, reducing the Cardinals’ immediate payroll impact.

Arenado, 34, is a respected veteran, elite fielder and Hall of Fame contender though age and injuries have slowed his bat in recent years. The former Colorado Rockie icon is a 10-time Gold Glove winner, six-time Platinum Glove recipient, five-time Silver Slugger winner and a three-time National League home run champion.

He finished third in NL MVP voting in 2022, when he posted a .293/.358/.533 slash line with 30 home runs and 103 RBIs. But his offensive production has dipped since he hit 26 homers in 2023 and 16 in 2024. Arenado battled hand and back  injuries in 2025, limiting him to 107 games and 12 home runs with a .666 OPS.

The Diamondbacks expect Arenado to be their primary third baseman following last year’s trade of slugger Eugenio Suárez to the Seattle mainers.

Arenado has a lifetime .282 batting average with more than 350 home runs and 1,100 RBIs. His 10 Gold Gloves came in his first 10 seasons from 2013 to 2020, eight of them with Colorado.

Johnmaxmena2, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; LatinoBaseball.com