Nolan Arenado Thanks Cardinals in IG Photo After Diamondbacks Trade Ahead of 2026 MLB Season

The St. Louis Cardinals announced Tuesday they traded Nolan Arenado and cash considerations to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for pitcher Jack Martinez, and the veteran third baseman took to social media Wednesday to thank his former organization.

Arenado posted a lengthy thank you to the coaches, trainers, staff members and teammates he worked with in St. Louis.

"To my teammates throughout the last five seasons—I love you guys," he wrote. "Thank you for being there for me and pushing me. Taking the field with you guys has been an honor for me."

Arenado is one of the best players of his generation with a resume that includes 10 Gold Glove awards, five Silver Sluggers, eight All-Star selections and six Platinum Gloves. He led the league in home runs three times and RBI twice when he was a member of the Colorado Rockies.

Yet Colorado traded him to the Cardinals ahead of the 2021 campaign, and he was an All-Star in each of his first three years with St. Louis. He also led the league with 7.9 wins above replacement in 2022, per Baseball Reference, and anchored the team's lineup.

However, he was far less effective last season while slashing .237/.289/.377 with 12 home runs and 52 RBI in 107 games. 

Arenado will be 35 years old during the 2026 campaign with two seasons remaining on his deal. The Cardinals have missed the playoffs three straight years and also traded Willson Contreras this offseason, and their competitive window didn't appear to fully line up with Arenado's at this point.

It comes as no surprise, then, that they traded him as they move into the future.

As for Arenado, he will look to bounce back from last season now that he is back in the National League West.