The St. Louis Cardinals officially announced today a surprising trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks, sending star third baseman Nolan Arenado to Arizona in exchange for minor league right-handed pitcher Jack Martinez and cash considerations.
The Diamondbacks will only pay Arenado $5M in 2026 and $6M in 2027, with Cardinals eating $31M of remaining $42M.
This move marks the end of Arenado’s five-year tenure in St. Louis.
“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,” stated Cardinals President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom. “We wish Nolan and his family the very best as he continues with the next chapter of his great career.”
Bloom continued, “As we continue to move forward, we are pleased to add another intriguing pitching prospect to our organization, and excited for the opportunity this move creates for a number of our players to step up and further establish themselves at the big league level.”
Arenado, now 34, joined the Cardinals prior to the 2021 season in a blockbuster deal from the Colorado Rockies. During his time in St. Louis from 2021-2025, he appeared in three All-Star games and delivered standout performances, including a third-place finish in National League Most Valuable Player voting in 2022. That season, his power and defense helped propel the Cardinals to an NL Central Division title. Known for his elite glove work (multiple Gold Gloves across his career) and consistent production at the hot corner, Arenado remained a fan favorite in St. Louis despite recent team struggles.
The return for the Cardinals comes in the form of Jack Martinez, a 22-year-old right-hander acquired by the Diamondbacks in the eighth round of the 2025 MLB Draft out of Arizona State University. The 6-4, 215-pound Martinez also pitched collegiately at Trinity University in Texas and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
In his 2025 season with the Sun Devils, Martinez went 6-4 with a 5.94 ERA across 15 starts, striking out 110 batters over 77.1 innings. Over his full collegiate career, he compiled a 20-8 record with a 4.76 ERA in 75 games (28 starts). A native of Corpus Christi, Texas, Martinez will make his professional debut in 2026 within the Cardinals’ minor league system, where he’ll get an opportunity to develop in a new organization.
The trade required Arenado to waive his no-trade clause, and reports indicate it came together quickly after shifts in the third-base market, including Alex Bregman’s signing elsewhere.
