Cardinals deal Arenado to Arizona

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.

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.

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’t the offensive force he used to be but will still provide experience at the position after the D-backs dealt slugger Eugenio Suárez at last season’s trade deadline.

“We’ve always liked the way he’s played the game and the impact he can have when he’s not playing,” Arizona general manager Mike Hazen said. “I think he’s a good fit. I know how much winning means to him and is important to him — and it’s important to us.”

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.

St. Louis agreed to send Arizona $22 million to offset this season’s salary — $2,666,666.67 on the 15th of each month from April to September — and $9 million on Nov. 1, 2027.

Arenado waived a no-trade provision to accept the deal.

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.

In December, three-time All-Star Willson Contreras was traded to the Red Sox.


(AP Photo/Erin Hooley, File)