Nolan Arenado trade could be a high-priced Yankees fix after Juan Soto miss

[ad_1]

DALLAS — The Yankees may use a 3rd baseman, and the Cardinals are trying to dump a confirmed if maybe fading one.

Among the many fallback plans Brian Cashman & Co. can undertake after their Juan Soto chase resulted in disappointment is focusing on Nolan Arenado, whom the Cardinals have publicly positioned on the commerce block.

Arenado holds a no-trade clause that may permit him to have a say on his subsequent group.

Geography shouldn't be a problem, however a group’s projected success is — which might bode nicely for a Yankees membership that's coming off a World Sequence look and has not had a dropping season since 1992.

Cardinals third base Nolan Arenado throws to first base. AP

Arenado needs “a group that he thinks goes to win now and win persistently for the rest of his profession,” his agent, Joel Wolfe, mentioned on the Winter Conferences on Tuesday.

The Cardinals and Arenado are working collectively to facilitate a commerce, and Arenado has carried out his greatest to open up avenues by stating he can be keen to maneuver throughout the diamond to play first base if wanted.

The Yankees (and the overwhelming majority of groups) would like the all-time glove at third, the place he has received 10 Gold Gloves.

Arenado is an amazing defender, an eight-time All-Star and a possible future Corridor of Famer who will likely be 34 in April and seems to be on the draw back of his profession.

Over the previous three seasons, his OPS has slipped from .891 to .774 to .719.

Cardinals’ Nolan Arenado hits a sacrifice fly. AP

Partly due to the downslope — and partly as a result of Arenado is owed $74 million over the ultimate three years of his contract — the Cardinals are looking for a brand new residence for the 12-year veteran.

“We hope one thing good occurs,” Wolfe mentioned earlier than cautioning, “He’s not going to go simply to go.”

The match must be proper — and it's debatable whether or not the match can be proper for the Yankees.

They've cycled by way of ageing third basemen in DJ LeMahieu and Josh Donaldson over the previous few years.

Arenado’s slip is obvious in his under-the-hood numbers, too, together with a mean 86.3 mph exit velocity final season that ranked within the ninth percentile of hitters.

All issues equal, the Yankees in all probability would like a lefty bat over Arenado’s righty bat.

Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) fields a floor ball in opposition to the Pittsburgh Pirates throughout the first inning at Busch Stadium. USA TODAY Sports activities through Reuters Con

The membership has a lot so as to add, and Arenado shouldn't be low-cost.

But, Arenado continues to be a superb defender, completed final season much better than he began it (.743 OPS within the second half) and has an apparent upside if he rediscovers his kind — an upside that might be tempting with out Soto round.

Within the post-Soto period, the Yankees are planning to unfold round their cash this winter and plug a number of holes, together with a pair within the infield.

They lack a primary baseman and both a second baseman or third baseman, relying the place Jazz Chisholm Jr. finally ends up.

“If we find yourself importing a 3rd baseman or plugging somebody, I really feel like Jazz is somebody that may clearly transfer to second base,” supervisor Aaron Boone mentioned.

With Willy Adames off the board, the very best free-agent choices at second and third embrace Alex Bregman (who's an elite expertise however will command some huge cash at 30 years previous and who would include considerations about how he would slot in the clubhouse and the way his bat would slot in The Bronx), Ha-Seong Kim and Gleyber Torres, to whom the Yankees declined to increase a qualifying supply.