Diamondbacks Acquire Nolan Arenado After Missed Opportunity with Alex Bregman
The Arizona Diamondbacks shifted their focus from Alex Bregman to another experienced player, Nolan Arenado. The Cardinals announced on Tuesday that they’ve traded Arenado to the Diamondbacks in exchange for pitching prospect Jack Martinez.
Arenado, who is 34, has two years remaining on his contract. The Cardinals will cover $31 million of the $42 million still owed, according to reports.
Interestingly, Arenado waived his no-trade clause to return to the National League West, where he spent the first eight years of his career with the Rockies. The Cardinals had been looking to trade him for quite some time, and while there were rumors last offseason, this time they finally found a willing partner to facilitate what could be perceived as a salary dump.
Initially, it seemed like the Diamondbacks would land Bregman to bolster their offense, but he opted for a five-year deal with the Cubs instead.
Now, Arenado will take on a key role with the Diamondbacks at a considerably reduced cost. That said, he has some worries. Last season marked his lowest performance, with a batting average of .237 and an on-base percentage of .289. He managed just 12 home runs and 52 RBIs over 102 games, leading to a subpar OPS+ of 87.
Despite these struggles, he remains a solid defender, having posted an above-average defensive score last year. He spent five seasons with the Cardinals, hitting .266 and earning accolades including three All-Star selections and two Gold Glove Awards. He even finished third in the NL MVP voting in 2022.
For the Diamondbacks, adding Arenado is part of their effort to return to playoff contention after an unexpected World Series appearance in 2023, especially after losing two consecutive games. On the other hand, the Cardinals continue with their future-focused rebuilding strategy.
As part of this trade, St. Louis previously shipped out veterans like Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras. Now, they’ve brought on a young talent that could fill a new position, while Brendan Donovan remains an intriguing trade option for teams looking to fill gaps left by players like Cody Bellinger and Kyle Tucker.
