The hot stove for Nolan Arenado, the St. Louis Cardinals’ award-winning third baseman, is on.
However, given recent developments in Arenado’s willingness to swap positions, teams such as the New York Yankees should be wary of adding Arenado’s remaining contract and his rapid deterioration at the plate.
John Mozeliak, the Cardinals’ outgoing president of baseball operations, stated that, while Arenado has not requested a trade from the Cardinals, he is open to hearing proposals.
Why has trade talk for the Cardinals and Nolan Arenado been silent?
Arenado is nearing the end of a nine-year contract worth $275 million. He will turn 34 this season and will earn $32 million. The Cardinals and Arenado each experienced sub-par seasons in 2023 and 2024.
Arenado slashed .272/.325/.394 with an OPS of .719 during the 2024 season. He hit 16 home runs, scored 70 runs, and notched 71 RBIs. He also had two stolen bases. These are decent numbers, but considering it’s Arenado and that he was paid $35 million last season for this performance, it’s underwhelming.
Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt had below-average seasons for the Cardinals, so it’s understandable why the team is reconsidering its strategy. Why pay aging veterans when you can focus on developing and boosting a brilliant roster of young stars with plenty of potential?
Yankees should be wary of Nolan Arenado, especially with willingness to switch positions
According to Katie Woo of The Athletic (subscription needed), Arenado is “willing to play first base, or at least less than third, to create roster flexibility for a potential new team.” Arenado has only ever played third base. He’s a 10-time Gold Glove winner and All-Star third baseman. The willingness to move positions would only appeal to teams who had a third baseman tied up for the foreseeable future. This begs the question: why would they want Arenado?
Jazz Chisholm Jr. is the Yankees’ starting third baseman, with Oswaldo Cabrera and D.J. LeMahieu serving as backups. Anthony Rizzo is a free agent, so first base is open. Cabrera and LeMahieu are also eligible to play first. Chisholm can play middle infield.
It is evident that the Yankees have a lot of young, versatile guys. It would make little sense for them to trade such versatility, as well as strong young pitching, for a guy on the verge of retirement who is willing to go to a position he has never played before.
While the Cardinals hope to make a push for youth, they may be stuck with Arenado for a few seasons. Teams are unlikely to trade up youthful potential for a player with a huge contract near the end of his career. The Yankees should surely follow suit, based on what the tea leaves are telling them.
