The St. Louis Cardinals entered this offseason aiming to make their roster younger, going into a rebuild under new&nbsp;president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom.&nbsp;&nbsp;

First trading Sonny Gray, then Willson Contreras, the Cardinals have now moved on from 10 time Gold Glove winner Nolan Arenado, trading the third baseman to the Arizona Diamondbacks today, in return receiving Arizona's eighth round pick in last year's draft right handed pitcher Jack Martinez.&nbsp; Arenado did have a no-trade clause which he waived for the D-backs.

The 34 year old&nbsp;Arenado is among the game’s most decorated active players with eight All-Star appointments, six Platinum Glove awards, five Silver Sluggers and three NL home run titles to go along with his 10 Gold Gloves, though his recent production has not lived up to that.&nbsp; This past season, injuries limited his playing time following an offseason filled with trade rumors, using that no trade clause to block a trade to the Houston Astros, going on to hit just 12 home runs with a .666 OPS in 107 games for St. Louis.

Arenado finished third in the voting for the National League’s MVP Award in 2022, when he slashed .293/.358/.533 with 30 home runs and 103 RBIs and won his 10th straight Gold Glove.&nbsp; His numbers have dipped significantly since.&nbsp; He hit just 26 home runs in 2023, and then 16 in 2024, before the injury riddled 2025 signaled the end of his time with the Cardinals.

Arenado is still owed $42 million over the next two seasons, $27 million in 2026 and $15 million in 2027, per SpoTrac.com. The final year of the contract was added on when he agreed to the trade from the Rockies to the Cardinals before the 2021 season. The Rockies are contractually obligated to pay $5 million of Arenado’s 2027 salary.

Martinez pitched last season at Arizona State University prior to being drafted by the Diamondbacks, being assigned to the&nbsp;ACL D-backs after signing with the the team.&nbsp; The right hander in college posted a 6-4 record with a 5.47 ERA in 15 starts, striking out 110 batters.&nbsp; In his collegiate career, in which he pitched at Arizona State, Louisiana-Lafayette, and Trinity College, he was 20-8 across 75 appearances, with 28 starts, posting a 4.76 ERA and striking out 287.

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768326579022.jpeg" alt="Nolan Arenado has been traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks as the St. Louis Cardinals continue to rebuild their roster and get younger/ Photo courtesy of X" />
 <figcaption>Nolan Arenado has been traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks as the St. Louis Cardinals continue to rebuild their roster and get younger/ Photo courtesy of X</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKEThe St. Louis Cardinals entered this offseason aiming to make their roster younger, going into a rebuild under new&nbsp;president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom.&nbsp;&nbsp;First trading Sonny Gray, then Willson Contreras, the Cardinals have now moved on from 10 time Gold Glove winner Nolan Arenado, trading the third baseman to the Arizona Diamondbacks today, in return receiving Arizona's eighth round pick in last year's draft right handed pitcher Jack Martinez.&nbsp; Arenado did have a no-trade clause which he waived for the D-backs.The 34 year old&nbsp;Arenado is among the game’s most decorated active players with eight All-Star appointments, six Platinum Glove awards, five Silver Sluggers and three NL home run titles to go along with his 10 Gold Gloves, though his recent production has not lived up to that.&nbsp; This past season, injuries limited his playing time following an offseason filled with trade rumors, using that no trade clause to block a trade to the Houston Astros, going on to hit just 12 home runs with a .666 OPS in 107 games for St. Louis.Arenado finished third in the voting for the National League’s MVP Award in 2022, when he slashed .293/.358/.533 with 30 home runs and 103 RBIs and won his 10th straight Gold Glove.&nbsp; His numbers have dipped significantly since.&nbsp; He hit just 26 home runs in 2023, and then 16 in 2024, before the injury riddled 2025 signaled the end of his time with the Cardinals.Arenado is still owed $42 million over the next two seasons, $27 million in 2026 and $15 million in 2027, per SpoTrac.com. The final year of the contract was added on when he agreed to the trade from the Rockies to the Cardinals before the 2021 season. The Rockies are contractually obligated to pay $5 million of Arenado’s 2027 salary.Martinez pitched last season at Arizona State University prior to being drafted by the Diamondbacks, being assigned to the&nbsp;ACL D-backs after signing with the the team.&nbsp; The right hander in college posted a 6-4 record with a 5.47 ERA in 15 starts, striking out 110 batters.&nbsp; In his collegiate career, in which he pitched at Arizona State, Louisiana-Lafayette, and Trinity College, he was 20-8 across 75 appearances, with 28 starts, posting a 4.76 ERA and striking out 287.You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.

Cardinals rebuild continues trading Arenado to D-Backs

The Kansas City Royals are making a change, announcing today a shift to the outfield walls, and Kauffman Stadium will look slightly different when Opening Day of the 2026 season hits.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The left and right field walls will be moved in nine to 10 feet, starting close to the foul poles and then tapering toward center field, where 410 feet will remain the distance from home plate. The wall height is going from 10 feet to 8 1/2 feet in most places. There will be more seats available, about 150 in left field and about 80 new drink-rail seats in right.

According to a team-provided diagram, the left- and right-field corners are being pulled in nine feet, from 356 and 353 feet, respectively, to 347 and 344 feet. The previous distances of 373 in both left and right fields will be nine feet closer, at 364 feet. Left-center and right-center fields will be moved in 10 feet, from 389 feet to 379 feet.

“We’ve discussed this possibility for years, and after much work by our Research &amp; Development department, believe this will be a positive change for our baseball team,” Royals Executive Vice President and General Manager J.J. Picollo said in a news release from the team. “We wanted more consistency throughout the season, while making sure the specifics put us in the best position to succeed.”

According to the Royals, these changes will likely create more home runs, along with robbed home runs, more extra-base hits, and more exciting action on the field, also bringing fans closer to seeing it. The decision was made by Baseball Operations for competitive reasons, including to bring "The K" more in line with other Major League ballparks.

Per research from the club, the changes will take the run value of fly balls at Kauffman move from the bottom third of MLB ballparks to the middle, primarily through more extra-base hits.&nbsp; Over the last three seasons, these specific changes would have benefitted the Royals overall, even accounting for more extra-base hits by opponents.

“Making this a fairer ballpark will help with roster construction, but more importantly will allow our players to keep the same approach regardless of where we play,” Royals Vice President of Research &amp; Development/Assistant GM Dr. Daniel Mack said. “Our approach was carefully considered to account for as many factors as possible. We believe this will ultimately reduce the constraints within Kauffman Stadium.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768320827072.jpeg" alt="Kauffman Stadium/ File photo" />
 <figcaption>Kauffman Stadium/ File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKEThe Kansas City Royals are making a change, announcing today a shift to the outfield walls, and Kauffman Stadium will look slightly different when Opening Day of the 2026 season hits.&nbsp;&nbsp;The left and right field walls will be moved in nine to 10 feet, starting close to the foul poles and then tapering toward center field, where 410 feet will remain the distance from home plate. The wall height is going from 10 feet to 8 1/2 feet in most places. There will be more seats available, about 150 in left field and about 80 new drink-rail seats in right.According to a team-provided diagram, the left- and right-field corners are being pulled in nine feet, from 356 and 353 feet, respectively, to 347 and 344 feet. The previous distances of 373 in both left and right fields will be nine feet closer, at 364 feet. Left-center and right-center fields will be moved in 10 feet, from 389 feet to 379 feet.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768320255230.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals</figcaption>
 </figure>“We’ve discussed this possibility for years, and after much work by our Research &amp; Development department, believe this will be a positive change for our baseball team,” Royals Executive Vice President and General Manager J.J. Picollo said in a news release from the team. “We wanted more consistency throughout the season, while making sure the specifics put us in the best position to succeed.”According to the Royals, these changes will likely create more home runs, along with robbed home runs, more extra-base hits, and more exciting action on the field, also bringing fans closer to seeing it. The decision was made by Baseball Operations for competitive reasons, including to bring "The K" more in line with other Major League ballparks.Per research from the club, the changes will take the run value of fly balls at Kauffman move from the bottom third of MLB ballparks to the middle, primarily through more extra-base hits.&nbsp; Over the last three seasons, these specific changes would have benefitted the Royals overall, even accounting for more extra-base hits by opponents.“Making this a fairer ballpark will help with roster construction, but more importantly will allow our players to keep the same approach regardless of where we play,” Royals Vice President of Research &amp; Development/Assistant GM Dr. Daniel Mack said. “Our approach was carefully considered to account for as many factors as possible. We believe this will ultimately reduce the constraints within Kauffman Stadium.”You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.

Changes coming to Kauffman Stadium outfield in upcoming season

The Baltimore Ravens have interviewed Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator and former Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy for their vacant head coaching position. 

Nagy, earned the AP NFL Coach of the Year in 2018, his first season in Chicago leading the Bears to a 12-4 record and the NFC North division title, before losing in the NFC Wildcard to the Philadelphia Eagles.&nbsp; Following that season however,&nbsp; Nagy went 22-27 over the next three before being dismissed prior to the 2022 season, returning to the Chiefs in 2022 as the quarterbacks coach before taking over as offensive coordinator in 2023.

Nagy is considered a strong candidate for the Ravens head coaching job after Baltimore fired longtime coach&nbsp;John Harbaugh.&nbsp; The Ravens have also acknowledged&nbsp;interviewing Vance Joseph, Davis Webb, Klint Kubiak, and Kevin Stefanski for the job as well.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754597064618.jpeg" alt="Patrick Mahomes warms up as Matt Nagy watches on/ Photo by Justin Peacock" />
 <figcaption>Patrick Mahomes warms up as Matt Nagy watches on/ Photo by Justin Peacock</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKEThe Baltimore Ravens have interviewed Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator and former Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy for their vacant head coaching position. Nagy, earned the AP NFL Coach of the Year in 2018, his first season in Chicago leading the Bears to a 12-4 record and the NFC North division title, before losing in the NFC Wildcard to the Philadelphia Eagles.&nbsp; Following that season however,&nbsp; Nagy went 22-27 over the next three before being dismissed prior to the 2022 season, returning to the Chiefs in 2022 as the quarterbacks coach before taking over as offensive coordinator in 2023.Nagy is considered a strong candidate for the Ravens head coaching job after Baltimore fired longtime coach&nbsp;John Harbaugh.&nbsp; The Ravens have also acknowledged&nbsp;interviewing Vance Joseph, Davis Webb, Klint Kubiak, and Kevin Stefanski for the job as well.You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.

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