The Yankees spent the winter window-shopping for third basemen like someone browsing a luxury car dealership with a strict budget. The interest was real — they needed someone who could lock down the hot corner — but the cost? Way out of reach.
Most of the available names came with massive price tags, whether in dollars, prospects, or both. A true upgrade was going to require a significant haul, possibly including major league-ready talent. That’s not a road Brian Cashman was eager to go down, especially with players like Ben Rice finally breaking out.
The Yankees weren’t about to flip a bat like Rice, who’s suddenly looking like a cornerstone. So, instead of forcing a splashy move, they held the line, knowing a better opportunity might come later.
The Arenado Rumors Never Really Died
All offseason, Nolan Arenado’s name hovered like a storm cloud just outside Yankee Stadium. You could feel it. There were hundreds of whispers, some louder than others, linking the Cardinals’ star third baseman to the Bronx.
It didn’t help that the Yankees signed Arenado’s best friend, Paul Goldschmidt, to man first base. Goldy had glowing things to say about Arenado — both as a person and a player — and the natural assumption was the reunion might carry over into the infield.
But here’s the catch: Arenado’s contract was always the elephant in the room. Even though the Cardinals were willing to eat a chunk of his deal, dropping his annual salary to around $16 million, the Yankees still balked. Three years left on the deal for a 33-year-old third baseman was a gamble they weren’t ready to take — not with several veterans on the roster already showing signs of decline.
It wasn’t about the player. Arenado remains an elite defender — a future Hall of Famer with one of the smoothest gloves in baseball. Through 11 games this season, he’s slashing .310/.420/.452 with a 140 wRC+, walking 16% of the time and striking out just 6%. He still brings value, no doubt.
But it came down to money, and Cashman had a hard cap that couldn’t be pushed past. The front office needed to be selective, especially with the team already sailing well over the luxury tax threshold.
Summer Could Look a Lot Different
Here’s where it gets interesting: the Yankees might soon find themselves in a much stronger position to make that kind of move.
With insurance money kicking in for Gerrit Cole, there’s some flexibility coming down the pipeline. That changes the calculus — especially if Arenado keeps hitting, stays healthy, and the Cardinals decide they’re better off offloading him before August.
If the Yankees can scoop up Arenado at a discount — and without parting ways with any of their top young assets — it might finally be time to strike. They wouldn’t be on the hook for the bulk of his salary this year, possibly just a few million. That’s manageable for a player of his caliber and pedigree.
The question will be how the roster looks by then. If the need is still glaring and the price is right, the Yankees may take one last swing at bringing Arenado to the Bronx.