The New York Yankees are heading into a crucial offseason with several top players set to hit free agency, including Juan Soto, Gleyber Torres, and key bullpen contributors. Soto is the Yankees’ primary target, and they’ll push hard to re-sign him. However, there’s a possibility that they might not succeed, so having alternative plans is essential.
One option to mitigate the potential loss of Soto and replace Torres at second base would be acquiring a third baseman and shifting Jazz Chisholm Jr. back to his natural second base position. A potential trade with the St. Louis Cardinals involving superstar infielder Nolan Arenado could be a solution.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan recently discussed Arenado’s potential availability. He noted that while Arenado’s no-trade clause adds complexity, the 34-year-old’s defensive prowess at third base remains elite, even if his offensive production in 2024 was around league average. With $74 million left on his contract (with Colorado covering $10 million), the Cardinals would likely need to cover part of his salary to make a trade feasible.
In a proposed deal, the Yankees could acquire Arenado and cash in exchange for two top pitching prospects, Will Warren and Cade Smith. Warren, 25, made his MLB debut last season with mixed results but had been a standout in the minors. Smith, 22, impressed in his first pro season with a 3.65 ERA over 93.2 innings split between Low-A and High-A, showcasing an elite fastball-slider combo along with a curveball and changeup.
Acquiring Arenado would bolster the Yankees’ infield at a lower cost than signing free agents like Willy Adames or Alex Bregman. While this move wouldn’t fully offset missing out on Soto, it would be a strong step in the right direction.
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