The St. Louis Cardinals and Houston Astros nearly finalized a trade for third baseman Nolan Arenado before he exercised his no-trade clause to block the deal. With Houston seemingly out of contention for the 10-time Gold Glove winner, the New York Yankees may now have a chance to negotiate for the eight-time All-Star.
The Yankees, who recently lost the World Series, have a vacancy at second base. Acquiring Arenado could allow them to slot him at third base and shift Jazz Chisholm Jr. to second. Alternatively, Arenado might take on a new role at first base, as he has expressed openness to changing positions to facilitate a trade.
Katie Woo of The Athletic reports that New York remains a strong contender for Arenado. Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak confirmed the team is still actively seeking trade partners for their star third baseman, stating they are exploring “multiple fronts.” While the list of teams Arenado would approve for a trade remains unclear, the Yankees and Red Sox have continued to express interest.
Arenado’s offensive production has declined in recent years, with a .272 batting average, 16 home runs, 71 RBIs, and a .719 OPS in 2024—numbers that fall short of his peak performances, such as his third-place MVP finish in 2022. Despite this, his elite defensive skills and potential versatility make him a valuable asset.
The Yankees have also been linked to Alex Bregman, which could delay any potential Arenado deal. However, securing Arenado could significantly bolster their roster and fill key positional gaps.
