JUST IN: New York Yankees pivot 2-player blockbuster trade for St. Louis Cardinals’ $52 million ace, ultimate Juan Soto backup plan

The New York Yankees recently lost out on the Juan Soto sweepstakes to the New York Mets, who lured the star with a $765 million contract offer, far surpassing the Yankees’ lower AAV proposal. Now, the Yankees are left to rely on their backup plan.

With several roster gaps to fill, the Yankees need to acquire a starting pitcher or two, bolster their bullpen, add an outfielder, and sign two infielders. One key need is a first baseman, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. could provide flexibility as he can play second or third base, allowing the Yankees to target either position.

If they’re in the market for a third baseman, they should consider St. Louis Cardinals star Nolan Arenado.

A Cardinals-Yankees trade to bring a Gold Glove third baseman to the Bronx

Arenado has $52 million remaining on his contract, but the Cardinals are likely willing to cover a significant portion of that amount to trade him. For the sake of this discussion, let’s assume the Cardinals are paying half of Arenado’s remaining salary. Here’s how a potential trade could unfold:

New York Yankees
Receive:

• 3B Nolan Arenado
• Cash Considerations

St. Louis Cardinals
Receive:

• RHP Will Warren
• OF Everson Pereira

This trade involves the Yankees sending two of their top-10 prospects to the Cardinals in exchange for Arenado and financial help with his contract.

 

 

Warren, the Yankees’ fifth-ranked prospect, made a brief and underwhelming appearance in the majors last year after pitching 109.2 innings in Triple-A. At 25 years old, he could benefit from a change of scenery to unlock his potential.

Pereira, the Yankees’ 10th-ranked prospect, was once considered an elite talent but hasn’t lived up to expectations. The 23-year-old outfielder hit .265/.346/.512 in Triple-A last season, but struggled in the majors. With the Yankees possibly adding another outfielder, his path to playing time in New York appears uncertain.

For the Yankees, acquiring Arenado would be a major boost, especially in light of their infield defense struggles in 2024. Arenado is widely regarded as one of the best defensive infielders of all time, and adding him would offer a significant upgrade to Aaron Boone’s roster following the loss of Soto.