
Padres' budget woes derail Arenado pursuit as Cardinals ship him to Diamondbacks
The Cardinals traded Nolan Arenado to the Diamondbacks for salary relief and pitching prospect Jack Martinez, ending a long saga; reports say the Padres were the other major suitor but wouldn’t absorb more of Arenado’s contract, and Arizona’s deal will pay just $5 million in 2026 and $6 million in 2027, underscoring Arenado’s down-market valuation despite his name.












