Cardinals trade outfielder Lars Nootbaar to Diamondbacks amid tight NL wild-card race

Nootbaar is under team control through 2027 Aug 3, 2026 at 6:32 pm ET • 1 min read Getty Images The Arizona Diamondbacks are set to acquire outfielder Lars Nootbaar from the St. Louis Cardinals minutes before Monday's Major League Baseball trade deadline, ESPN reports. The Cardinals are receiving two pitching prospects, right-hander Daniel Eagen and left-hander Sandro Santana, the Athletic reports, as well as a player to be named later. Nootbaar, 28, underwent offseason surgery to correct a congenital deformity on both heels and didn't make his 2026 debut until early June. Since being activated, he's put up a 96 OPS+, albeit with much better quality-of-contact metrics and with time spent at all three outfield positions. For his career, the lefty-swinging Nootbaar has an OPS of .764 against right-handed pitching with 212 walks in 1,601 plate appearances in such situations. He's not eligible for free agency until after the 2027 season, and he's owed the balance of a $5.35 million salary for this year. Nootbaar in Arizona will join former Cardinals teammates Nolan Arenado, who was traded to the Diamondbacks this past offseason. On the Cardinals' side of the trade, Eagen is the most notable addition. The 23-year-old former third-rounder out of Presbyterian College in South Carolina has made 20 starts for Amarillo in the hitter-friendly Texas League this season. He has a 4.95 ERA for them, but he's also struck out 109 batters in 87 ⅓ innings. Eagen has a four-pitch repertoire fronted by a mid-90s fastball with good carry at the top of the zone. Santana, 21, has a 3.46 ERA and a 2.30 K/BB ratio over 71 relief appearances and four starts spread over parts of four minor-league seasons. In 2026, he's taken a step forward at the Double-A level, with an 0.57 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 15 ⅔ innings since his promotion.