The St. Louis Cardinals officially bid farewell to Paul Goldschmidt on Saturday, as the seven-time All-Star inked a one-year, $12.5 million deal with the New York Yankees. Goldschmidt steps in to fill the first base vacancy created after the Yankees declined Anthony Rizzo’s 2025 club option earlier this offseason.
With Goldschmidt now donning Yankees pinstripes, speculation has grown around the possibility of his former teammate, Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado, joining him in New York. Both players, likely future Hall of Famers, are eager to claim a World Series title, making the reigning American League champion Yankees an appealing destination for Arenado.
New York, already solid at shortstop, could benefit from a defensive powerhouse like Arenado at third base. Adding him would allow the Yankees to shift Jazz Chisholm Jr. to second base, a position where he thrives. However, previous trade talks between the Yankees and Cardinals failed, with St. Louis unwilling to take on a substantial pitching contract New York offered in exchange for Arenado.
Initially, Arenado excluded the Yankees from his list of preferred trade destinations. But that stance might change following the Houston Astros’ recent acquisition of Gold Glove first baseman Christian Walker. With Walker now in Houston, it’s increasingly unlikely Alex Bregman will re-sign with the Astros. Reports suggest Bregman’s probable departure influenced Arenado’s decision to turn down a trade to Houston.
Now, with Bregman expected to leave and Goldschmidt thriving in New York, Arenado may reconsider. The Yankees, having added former Cubs star Cody Bellinger as well, appear poised to create the conditions necessary to secure Arenado. A deal to reunite the two Cardinals sluggers in New York seems increasingly possible.
