DALLAS — The Yankees could use a third baseman, and the Cardinals are looking to part ways with a proven, if perhaps fading, third baseman.
After the pursuit of Juan Soto ended in disappointment, some alternative plans Brian Cashman & Co. could employ include targeting Nolan Arenado, who the Cardinals have publicly put on the trade block. There is.
Arenado has a no-trade clause that gives him a say in his next team.
Geography doesn't matter, but the team's anticipated success bodes well for a Yankees club that has reached the World Series and is coming off an undefeated season since 1992.
Arenado's agent, Joel Wolfe, said during Tuesday's winter meetings that Arenado wants “a team that he thinks can win now and continue to win consistently for the rest of his career.”
The Cardinals and Arenado are working together to facilitate a trade, and Arenado is doing his best to pave the way, saying he is willing to move across the diamond and play first base if needed.
The Yankees (and most teams) would prefer the 10-time Gold Glove winner to be the No. 3 best glove of all time.
Arenado is a tremendous defender, eight-time All-Star and possible future Hall of Famer, but he turns 34 in April and appears to be in the trough of his career.
Over the past three seasons, his OPS has dropped from .891 to .774 to .719.
Partially because of the downhill slope, and partly because Arenado is owed $74 million over the final three years of his contract, the Cardinals are looking for a new home for the 12-year veteran.
“I hope something good happens,” Wolf said, before warning, “He's just not going to go.”
The fit has to be right, but it's debatable whether that fit is right for the Yankees.
They've cycled through aging third basemen in DJ LeMahieu and Josh Donaldson in recent years.
Arenado's decline is also evident in his internal numbers, including his average exit velocity of 86.3 mph last season, which ranked in the 9th percentile among hitters.
All things being equal, the Yankees would probably prefer a left-handed hitter over a right-handed hitter in Arenado.
The club has a lot to add to, and Arenado doesn't come cheap.
Still, Arenado is still a good defender, finished last season much better than he started the season (.743 OPS in the second half), and could clearly turn things around if he gets back to form, and without Soto. However, we can expect an attractive turnaround.
In preparation for the post-Soto era, the Yankees plan to spread out money this winter to fill several holes, including two infielders.
They are missing a first baseman and either a second or third baseman depending on where Jazz Chisholm Jr. goes.
“If we end up acquiring a third baseman or adding someone, I think the Jazz obviously have a player they can move to second base,” manager Aaron Boone said.
With Willie Adames coming off the board, the second and third best free agent options include Alex Bregman (he's an elite talent, but he'll command a lot of money at age 30) How did he do this? (Hasung Kim and Gleyber Torres), the Yankees have extended qualifying offers I refused.
Other options rumored on the trade market include Alec Bohm of the Phillies.
