PHOENIX — Nolan Arenado’s trade to the Arizona Diamondbacks was a surprise, but it was strategically tied to All-Star Ketel Marte.
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Jun 16, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks second base Ketel Marte (4) reacts after hitting a single against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
General manager Mike Hazen said discussions about Arenado had initially started at the beginning of the offseason, as most teams inquire about certain players early on. However, those discussions were during a time of uncertainty regarding Marte’s future.
Much of the offseason centered around whether or not the D-Backs second baseman would be moved ahead of the 2026 season. As the weeks went by, it seemed increasingly unlikely that a deal would be reached, and on Friday, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported that Arizona would not trade him.
That opened up the Diamondbacks to start shaping up their infield.
Jul 19, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third base Nolan Arenado (28) gets ready to field the ball against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
With Marte firmly in place, Hazen and the front office shifted their priorities to other areas to help boost the infield. The question was how they could boost the infield to complement his elite-caliber style of play.
In came Arenado.
As a solid option at the hot corner, with 10 Gold Gloves and consistent production, he was a strong candidate to obtain.
Sep 20, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) hits a one run single against the Milwaukee Brewers during the fourth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
While his 2025 numbers weren’t what fans are used to seeing out of him — a .237 batting average with 12 home runs and a .666 OPS — Arenado’s full résumé and work showcase that he can still be a power piece in Arizona.
“One of the things I talked about was, ‘How are we gonna build around [Marte]?’, with this in mind,” Hazen said on Tuesday. “Solidifying some of the corner to the infield was gonna be a priority for us, given that I traded [Eugenio] Suárez and [Josh] Naylor in the middle of the year last year.”
Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen said the team had “initial” talks at the beginning of the offseason for Nolan Arenado before the trade and that they wanted to build around Ketel Marte.
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With three All-Stars in the infield and now four All-Stars at the top of the lineup, given that Arenado is slotted in the cleanup spot, it gives the Diamondbacks a boost they’ve been looking.
As the offseason continues and the D-Backs continue to add more talent to the organization, Arenado’s trade signals a commitment to one of their star players and a commitment to remain competitive.
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Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde
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