So far, the New York Yankees haven’t made a move to upgrade at third base, but it would be unwise to consider that door closed.
It was a fairly transformative offseason for the Yankees, especially in the wake of losing superstar outfielder Juan Soto in free agency. The team acquired four former All-Stars and improved their defense across the board, but third base still stuck out as a point of concern.
If Oswaldo Cabrera, Oswald Peraza, or D.J. LeMahieu can’t prove to be a quality starter at the position by the July trade deadline, it seems only natural that the Yankees should explore the possibility of bringing in someone with a stronger track record.
And this early in the season, there’s one third baseman who stands out above the rest as a potential trade target.
On Friday, Rowan Kavner of FOX Sports predicted that the Yankees would acquire St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado, an eight-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glover, by the trade deadline.
“With the Yankees and Orioles both within striking distance of the division lead at the break, they make dueling moves hoping to separate,” Kavner wrote. “Arenado turns back the clock in a resurgent first half, and the Yankees hope he can fix their offensive woes.”
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Arenado, 33, seemed like a lock to be traded at the beginning of the offseason, but coming off a down year, and with $64 million remaining over three years of his Cardinals contract, no one was willing to bite, though the Yankees were constantly rumored as a trade partner.
If Arenado can mitigate concerns about his offense (he did homer on Opening Day) and the Yankees still need help, it feels all too obvious that the two sides could be a strong fit.
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