The St. Louis Cardinals’ rebuild under Chaim Bloom has officially begun, with third basemanNolan Arenado becoming the latest veteran to be moved.
On Wednesday, St. Louis finalized a deal sending Arenado to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for right-handed minor league pitcher Jack Martinez.
The most notable aspect of the trade was the Cardinals agreeing to cover approximately $31 million of the $42 million remaining on Arenado’s contract over the next two seasons.
With Bloom now in charge as president of baseball operations, succeeding John Mozeliak, he is reshaping the roster to fit his vision.
That process requires evaluating younger players and creating opportunities for them, leaving little room for Arenado on a team focused on the future.
Former St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) during the 2025 MLB season. © Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images
Still, Arenado’s impact on the organization and its fans was significant. When the move became official, he posted a farewell message on social media, thanking ownership, Mozeliak, his teammates and the fans.
He also addressed Bloom directly, noting the respect between them and acknowledging that he expanded his no-trade clause to help St. Louis find a suitable partner.
“I want to start by thanking the Cardinals organization, Mr. Dewitt, and John Mozeliak for trading for me back in 2021. To Chaim [Bloom], we didn’t get a chance to work together for very long, but in the short amount of time we did, you’ve been respectful and easy to talk to. I appreciate it,” Arenado wrote on Instagram.
Cardinals Shift to Youth as Arenado Begins His Diamondbacks Era
During his time in St. Louis, Arenado cemented himself as one of the best third basemen in baseball.
Across five seasons with the Cardinals, he delivered elite defense and consistent power, adding to a body of work that now includes eight All-Star selections, ten Gold Gloves, five Silver Sluggers and six Platinum Gloves over 13 MLB seasons.
Debuting with the Colorado Rockies in 2013, Arenado became the face of their franchise before his move to St. Louis, and now the Arizona Diamondbacks will mark the third organization of his career.
Even with his consistent success, 2025 proved to be a difficult year for Arenado. Battling through a right shoulder injury, he posted a .237 batting average, .289 on-base percentage, .666 OPS, 12 home runs and 52 RBIs across 107 games.
The down season hurt his trade value, but his reputation as one of the greatest defensive third basemen in history remains intact.
For 2026, the Diamondbacks are banking on a healthy Arenado to rebound and provide veteran leadership to a roster aiming to contend in the National League.
As for the Cardinals, the departure of Arenado opens the door for Nolan Gorman to take over at third base. Gorman, who has shown flashes of power and versatility, could benefit from an extended look in the everyday lineup as Bloom evaluates the younger core.
