Arenado’s full no-trade clause gave him a say in his destiny. He had a limited number of teams he would have accepted a deal for last offseason. He expanded that list this winter, discussing the decision on an introductory Zoom call with reporters. “When you see where the Cardinals have gone over the last few years, it was very clear that there is a step they need to take,” Arenado said (link via Sam Blum of The Athletic). “Letting these young guys go and discover who they are and who their identity is. I think in a way I’m just kind of in the way of that. I always felt that way last year.”
When asked about the Diamondbacks’ appeal specifically, Arenado pointed to the core of their position players Corbin Caroll, Geraldo Perdomo And Kettle Marte (video courtesy of Steve Gilbert of MLB.com). He noted the geographic proximity to his native Southern California and expressed excitement about the team’s playing style. He will take over as the everyday third baseman and should at least provide a strong glove, although it remains to be seen how much he has left in the tank offensively. He enters his age-35 season having hit .237/.289/.377 in over 107 games.
Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that talks with the Diamondbacks developed quickly. Arizona had been involved in the free agent third baseman market Alex Bregmanwho agreed to a five-year contract with the Cubs on Saturday. It wasn’t until last Friday that reports emerged that they had firmly removed Marte from the trading market. Although the Cardinals and D-Backs had talked about Arenado all winter, it appears the talks have accelerated in the wake of the Bregman/Marte developments.
Goold writes that the Snakes were also among the teams that contacted the Cards Brendan Donovan. Their interest in the left-handed utility man had not previously been reported. It’s unlikely that will mean much at this point. St. Louis is widely expected to trade Donovan, but teams like the Mariners and Giants appear more involved. Arizona has Marte, Perdomo and Arenado in the three infield spots to the left of first base. Donovan would be an upgrade in left field, but a team with a need at second base will likely be more motivated to part with top talent.
Arizona’s focus now appears to be on a right-handed first baseman and the bullpen. Franchise icon Paul Goudschmidt has been a meaningful target in the previous role all offseason, and the acquisition of his old St. Louis teammate only strengthens that fit. They may need to take a more patchwork approach to the bullpen. This week’s one-year, $1.55 million deal to bring back Taylor Clarke is their only major league bullpen pickup to date.
Clarke projects more as a middle or long reliever than a lever arm. That goes for pretty much everyone in the pen from Arizona to AJ Puk And Justin Martinez returning from last year’s elbow surgeries. General manager Mike Hazen acknowledged that while the front office would like to add an established late-game department, that will be a challenge at this stage.
“Would I want someone with a clear background as an eighth- and ninth-inning pitcher? That’s an easier answer. I’m not sure what we’ll have access to that way,” Hazen said. Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. He acknowledged that they need to continue expanding the bullpen this season, but suggested the biggest impact would likely come from internal improvements and hopefully getting Martinez and Puk healthy. Arizona prioritized throwing higher minors during last summer’s deadline activity. Brandyn Garcia, Juan Burgos And Andreas Hofmann they all came across as inexperienced but essentially MLB-ready bullpen pieces.
Of the injured returnees, Puk seems to have already progressed. Piecoro writes that the D-Backs hope to get the left-hander back within the first few months of the season, while Martinez is targeting a return in the second half. Puk underwent internal brace surgery at the end of June. Martinez required a full Tommy John reconstruction, which comes with a longer recovery time. It was the second elbow ligament procedure of each pitcher’s career, as they both had Tommy John surgeries during their prospect days.
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