Doesn't it feel as though the St. Louis Cardinals placed third baseman Nolan Arenado on the trade block a lifetime ago?
The Cardinals have been trying to deal him for more than a year. Arenado, who has a full no-trade clause, blocked a deal to the Houston Astros last offseason, as a matter of fact.
On Tuesday, this long saga ended as Arenado waived his no-trade to accept a deal to the Arizona Diamondbacks. In return, St. Louis received right-handed pitching prospect Jack Martinez, who was Arizona's eighth-round pick in the 2025 MLB draft.
In addition, the Cardinals will cover $31 million of the $42 million Arenado is owed over the remaining two years of his contract.
If you think that return seems a little light for a player who has won 10 Gold Gloves, six Platinum Gloves, five Silver Sluggers and three National League home run titles, you aren't the only one.
The Cardinals traded an eight-time All-Star for an eighth-round draft pick, and they ate a ton of money to boot. I guess that shows that these two sides were ready for a divorce.
Arenado, 34, is coming off the worst season of his career. Back and hand injuries limited him to 107 games. He finished with a .237/.289/.377 slash line with only 12 homers and 52 RBIs.
The Diamondbacks are hoping Arenado can turn the clock back a few years, and they do have a need at third base after sending Eugenio Suarez to the Seattle Mariners at last year's trade deadline.
Rumors tied Arizona to free agent third baseman Alex Bregman, but he recently signed with the Cubs. Perhaps that move set the wheels in motion for this deal to be completed.
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