If you woke up and typed "what was the cardinals score today" into your phone, you're probably looking for one of two very different things. We’re in that weird mid-January gap where the NFL season is screaming toward the Super Bowl and MLB is essentially a series of high-stakes business meetings in Florida or Arizona.
Honestly, the "score" for the Cardinals today isn't on a grass field. It's on a balance sheet and a transaction wire.
The Arizona Cardinals didn't play a game today, January 14, 2026. Their season actually ended about ten days ago with a thud in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, the St. Louis Cardinals just made a move that feels like a gut-punch to some and a necessary evil to others.
The Arizona Cardinals Score: Season Over
There is no Arizona Cardinals score today because their 2025-2026 campaign is officially in the books.
They finished with a 3-14 record, landing them at the bottom of the NFC West. Their final game was a 37-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on January 4. It wasn't exactly a nail-biter. While guys like Michael Wilson and Trey McBride showed some serious flashes of brilliance—McBride finished the year with over 1,200 receiving yards, which is just absurd for a tight end—the team just couldn't stop anybody on defense.
If you’re checking the score because you thought they were in the playoffs, I've got bad news. The Rams, who beat them in that finale, are the ones moving on. They actually just knocked off the Carolina Panthers in the Wild Card round and are heading to Chicago to face the Bears this coming weekend.
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Basically, the Cardinals are already looking at the 2026 NFL Draft. They’ve got a high pick, and they're going to need it to fix a defense that gave up 45 points to the Rams back in December and 37 in the season finale.
St. Louis Cardinals: The Nolan Arenado Trade
Now, if you’re a baseball fan asking about the St. Louis Cardinals, the "score" is a lot more complicated.
Yesterday and today, the news cycle has been dominated by one massive headline: Nolan Arenado has been traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Yeah, you read that right. The face of the franchise for the last several years is gone. St. Louis is officially in "retool" mode—or "rebuild," depending on how much of the front office's Kool-Aid you've been drinking.
The Details of the Deal
This wasn't just a player-for-player swap. It was a massive financial unburdening for the Cardinals. Here’s how it breaks down:
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- St. Louis receives: Jack Martinez, a young minor league pitcher who was an 8th-round pick in 2025.
- Arizona receives: Nolan Arenado and a massive pile of cash.
- The Money: The Cardinals are reportedly sending about $31 million to the Diamondbacks to help cover Arenado’s remaining salary.
It feels kinda wild to see a team pay $31 million just to have a future Hall of Famer play for someone else. But that's where the Cardinals are. Chaim Bloom, the new President of Baseball Operations, is clearly tearing the house down to the studs. This comes right on the heels of trading Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras to the Red Sox.
What This Means for St. Louis Fans
People are understandably upset.
In 2022, it felt like Goldschmidt and Arenado were going to ride off into the sunset together as St. Louis legends. Now? Both are gone. The "score" today for Cardinals fans is a feeling of loss, but the front office would argue the real win is the $54 million they’ve cleared off the books over the next two years.
Whether that money actually gets spent on winning players in 2027 remains to be seen. Historically, St. Louis fans have a hard time trusting "war chest" promises.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Schedule
Since there's no live game today, the most "action" you'll find is looking at the future.
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The Arizona Cardinals already know who they're playing in 2026. Because they finished last in the division, they get a "last-place schedule," which sounds insulting but is actually a gift. They’ll host the Philadelphia Eagles and the Denver Broncos at State Farm Stadium. They also have to travel to face the Kansas City Chiefs and the Dallas Cowboys.
On the baseball side, the St. Louis Cardinals are heading toward Spring Training with a roster that looks unrecognizable. Without Arenado at third, you're looking at guys like Nolan Gorman or Jordan Walker having to finally step up and be "the man."
Key Dates for Cardinals Fans
- January 16, 2026: The Cardinals Caravan hits Springfield. If you want to ask the team's brass what the plan is, that’s your chance.
- January 17-18, 2026: NFL Divisional Playoffs. If you’re a football fan, watch the Rams vs. Bears game to see what the Cardinals could have been if they hadn't stumbled in December.
- February 2026: Pitchers and catchers report. For St. Louis, this will be the most scrutinized Spring Training in a decade.
If you were looking for a literal game score from today, the closest thing is the St. Louis Blues (NHL), who played the Hurricanes yesterday, or just the general realization that we are in the heart of the "Hot Stove" season for baseball.
The Arizona Cardinals finished 3-14. The St. Louis Cardinals just traded their best player. It's a tough day to be a "Cardinals" fan in either sport, but at least the path forward is finally clear: it's time to rebuild.
If you're following the NFL playoffs, keep an eye on the Rams-Bears matchup this Sunday at 6:30 PM ET. For baseball fans, the next big thing to watch is whether Chaim Bloom makes a fourth "salary dump" trade before the end of the month.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Football: Check the current 2026 NFL Draft order; with a 3-14 record, Arizona is locked into a top-5 pick.
- Baseball: Monitor the MLB transaction wire. With Arenado gone, St. Louis might be looking for cheap, high-upside "lottery ticket" players to fill the roster.
- Tickets: If you're a Diamondbacks fan in Arizona, keep an eye on ticket prices for Opening Day—Arenado's return to the NL West is going to be a massive draw.