Could the New York Yankees finally acquire 8-time All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado from the St. Louis Cardinals?
Baseball trade rumors have connected the New York Yankees to third baseman Nolan Arenado since before the start of the 2025 MLB season.
The Yankees are looking for an upgrade at third base, while the Cardinals are not expected to compete for the playoffs this summer.
However, a trade hasn’t occurred for multiple reasons, including a surprising competitive streak from St. Louis this spring. The Cardinals hold a 47-39 record as July approaches and currently occupy the last National League wild card spot.
Even if St. Louis falls from playoff contention, there are significant hurdles to a potential Arenado deal with New York. The third baseman has two years left on his hefty contract and a no-trade clause.
But let’s get creative! Let’s delve into the possibility of Arenado joining the Yankees.
St. Louis Cardinals-New York Yankees Mock Trade
The St. Louis Cardinals would acquire infielder Oswald Peraza and left-handed pitcher Brock Selvidge, who is ranked as the No. 8 prospect in the Yankees organization. In return, the New York Yankees would receive third baseman Nolan Arenado and $ 10 million in cash considerations.
The value of prospects the Yankees might give up for the veteran third baseman largely depends on how much cash the Cardinals are willing to include in the deal. If the trade is primarily a salary dump for St. Louis, they may not get much in return. Although Arenado has declined from his peak performance, he continues to be compensated like a star through the 2027 MLB season.
With an eight-year, 260millioncontract,Arenadoissettoearn 16 million in 2026 and $ 15 million in 2027. In this hypothetical trade, the Cardinals would cover a substantial portion of Arenado’s 2025 salary, while the Yankees would be responsible for the remainder of his contract.
In exchange, the Cardinals would land Peraza, a 25-year-old infielder who has faced offensive challenges over four seasons in the majors. The Yankees would also include Selvidge, a 22-year-old lefty currently playing in Double-A.
For this trade to occur, Arenado would need to waive his no-trade clause, making this scenario seem unlikely. Reports this spring suggest that he has been reluctant to allow a trade to New York.
Over his 13 seasons in the MLB, Arenado has posted a .283 batting average with 350 home runs, 1,173 RBIs, 982 runs scored, and 29 stolen bases, achieving an .850 OPS across 1,760 games. He’s currently in his fifth season with the Cardinals after starting his career with the Colorado Rockies.
Known for his defensive prowess, Arenado won 10 consecutive NL Gold Gloves at third base and made eight All-Star teams. Although he benefited from playing at Coors Field in Denver, where he led the NL in home runs three times and RBIs twice, his OPS with the Cardinals is about 100 points lower than during his time in Colorado.
Factors such as age, in addition to ballpark dynamics, have led to reduced offensive numbers in St. Louis, as evidenced by his current season stats of .247/.306/.395 and a .701 OPS.
In New York, there is potential for his numbers to improve, especially hitting alongside Aaron Judge in a hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium. Nevertheless, his age poses an ongoing concern, which might explain why the Cardinals haven’t yet traded him.
While the idea of Arenado joining the Yankees is tantalizing, it remains largely a dream for now.
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