Breaking Trade: Nolan Arenado Dealt to Contender in the West

The long-awaited trade of St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado has finally gone down. The 10-time Gold Glove winner will be making his way out west, to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

TRADE 🚨 The Diamondbacks are acquiring 3B Nolan Arenado from the Cardinals, per multiple reports pic.twitter.com/qzWBLbl2at
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) January 13, 2026

The Cardinals are also sending $31 million to the Diamondbacks to help cover the remaining two years left on Arenado’s nine-year, $275 million contract. The eight-time All-Star agreed to waive his no-trade clause to complete the deal.

St. Louis receives right-handed pitching prospect Jack Martinez in return. He was drafted out of Arizona State in the 2025 MLB Draft.

"We are grateful for Nolan's five years as a Cardinal, on and off the field -- for his drive, his competitiveness, and for all of the memories he gave us," Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said in a statement.

Arenado, 34, battled injuries last season and hit just .237 with 12 home runs and a career-low .289 on-base percentage in 107 games with the Cardinals. It’s a far cry from his All-Star years when he was a regular 30-40 HR hitter with OPS numbers in the .900s. But he should make for a great veteran leader for the young and talented Diamondbacks.