On January 13th, 2026, the St. Louis Cardinals dealt All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado and cash considerations to the Arizona Diamondbacks for young prospect Jack Martinez and a bit more flexibility financially and roster-wise.
Martinez, 22, was an eighth-round pick in this past year's MLB draft out of Arizona State University. The raw numbers don’t jump off the page for the newest Cardinal prospect. His final season in college saw an ERA of 5.47, and his career ERA through school was 5.32. The right-hander stands at 6'4, 215lbs, and is projected to fill out a bit more with time, potentially adding some velocity.