St. Louis Cardinals trade Nolan Arenado

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have traded third baseman Nolan Arenado, and $31 million to the Arizona Diamondbacks for starting pitcher Jack Martinez. Arenado, 34, hit .237 with 48 runs, 95 hits, 18 doubles, 1 triple, 12 home runs, 52 RBI's, 3 stolen bases, and 28 walks in 2025. 

Arenado has been an All-Star 8 times: (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023). Arenado has won the Gold Glove Award 10 times: (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022). Arenado has won the Silver Slugger Award 5 times: (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2022). Arenado has led the NL in home runs 3 times: (2015, 2016, and 2018). Arenado has also led the NL in RBI's 2 times: (2015 and 2016). 

Arenado had his best season in 2015, with the Colorado Rockies. That season, Arenado hit .287 with 97 runs, 177 hits, 43 doubles, 4 triples, 42 home runs, 130 RBI's, 2 stolen bases, and 34 walks. The doubles and home runs were both career highs for Arenado. 

In 2016, Arenado had career highs in both runs (116) and RBI's (133). 

Arenado had career highs in both hits (187) and triples (7) in 2017.

In 2018, Arenado had a career high (73) walks. 

Arenado had a career high (5) stolen bases in 2022. 

Overall, Arenado has played 13 MLB seasons. Arenado has played 1,787 games with 992 runs, 1,921 hits, 405 doubles, 34 triples, 353 home runs, 1,184 RBI's, 31 stolen bases, 577 walks, and a .282 batting average. 

Martinez, 22, was drafted by the Diamondbacks in the 8th round (243rd overall) of the 2025 MLB Draft out of Arizona State University. Martinez was 6-4 with a 5.94 ERA, 15 games, 15 starts, 77.1 innings, 110 strikeouts, and 33 walks in 2025. The starts, innings, and strikeouts were all career highs for Martinez. 

Overall, Martinez has played 4 college seasons. Martinez is 20-8 with a 4.76 ERA, 75 games, 28 starts, 2 saves, 223.1 innings, 287 strikeouts, and 122 walks. 

Martinez can reach 97 miles per hour with his fastball and also had a solid changeup. Martinez also throws a slider (low-80's) and a curve. 

The Diamondbacks get a future Hall of Famer in Arenado. The Cardinals are able to get rid of Arenado's contract, while getting something in return. The Cardinals weren't going to get much of anything bigger for Arenado because he seems to be on the decline. Arenado had a no-trade clause, too, so he controlled which teams he'd approve a trade to. Arenado hasn't been good the last couple of seasons. Arenado also seems to have lost his power. 

In Martinez, the Cardinals get a pitcher who has potential to be a starting pitcher or a reliever. Martinez seems to get strikeouts, too. Will Martinez develop into something bigger? No one knows. But he's an interesting pitcher who could have upside. It's nice to see the Cardinals are getting lots of pitching depth this offseason.