Home / Sports / Cardinals Ship Nootbaar in Rebuild Blow
Cardinals Ship Nootbaar in Rebuild Blow
4 Aug
Summary
- Lars Nootbaar traded to Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday.
- Nootbaar has one arbitration year remaining before free agency.
- Cardinals continue rebuild, trading another core player.
The St. Louis Cardinals have traded outfielder Lars Nootbaar to the Arizona Diamondbacks, according to a league source. This move on Monday signifies a continuation of the Cardinals' substantial rebuilding efforts. Nootbaar, 28, is under contract for another year via arbitration before potentially becoming a free agent after the 2027 season.
Acquired as an eighth-round pick in 2018, Nootbaar had become a consistent major league regular over his five seasons with St. Louis. Despite a down offensive year in 2025, he has generally performed above average at the plate while playing all three outfield positions. He recently underwent offseason surgery for heel deformities, missing the first two months of the current season but returning in early June.
This transaction follows a series of significant trades by the Cardinals this offseason, including those involving Brendan Donovan, Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras, and Nolan Arenado. Nootbaar was among a select group of Cardinals players accumulating significant value since 2022, and his departure, along with others, leaves only Masyn Winn from that former core group.
