The St. Louis Cardinals likely envisioned their duo of Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt leading the team to multiple championships. Instead, the Cardinals endured ups and downs. The Cardinals have struggled over the past two years, and now Arenado has emerged as a trade candidate.
The Yankees fell just short of a World Series championship in 2024, as they were defeated by the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games. New York’s primary focus is on re-signing superstar outfielder Juan Soto this offseason, and they have also been linked to free agent first baseman Pete Alonso. Arenado, however, could make sense as a trade target for the Yankees.
The St. Louis Cardinals missed the postseason in 2024. They could look to move on from some of their aging veterans in the offseason as they hope to be playing October baseball in 2025.
FanSided’s Zach Pressnell proposed this trade that sends Nolan Arenado to the New York Yankees in exchange for pitching help:
Cardinals receive: right-handed pitcher Will Warren and right-handed pitcher Cade Smith
Yankees receive: third baseman Nolan Arenado and cash considerations
“Arenado would slot into the Yankees infield perfectly and for much cheaper than free agent infielders Willy Adames and Alex Bregman,” wrote Pressnell. “Adding Arenado alone wouldn’t solve the Yankees problems if they miss on Soto, but it would be quite a good start.”
The Yankees’ top priority will be keeping Soto, but if they miss, the Cardinals could be solid trade partners. Arenado is one of the best third basemen of this generation. He could fill in nicely for the Yankees, while Jazz Chisholm Jr. could move back to second base. The Cardinals would be getting two of the Yankees’ top 30 prospects back in return.
“Warren, 25, made his big league debut last season, though it came with mixed results. Before that, Warren had been a top arm in the minor leagues, namely in 2022 and 2023. He struggled a bit in 2024, though he still has multiple above-average pitch offerings that make him a valuable prospect,” wrote Pressnell. “Smith, 22, was excellent this season in his first year of pro ball. The right-handed pitcher tossed 93.2 innings with a 3.65 ERA split between Low-A and High-A. He has an elite fastball and slide combination while also offering a curveball and a changeup.”
Arenado signed an eight-year, $260 million deal with the Colorado Rockies in 2019. He was traded to the Cardinals before the 2021 season. He is an eight-time All-Star and a 10-time Gold Glove Award winner. The Cardinals would be losing a big piece, but it may be necessary for them to get younger and have a successful future.
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