The New York Yankees are still in need of a third baseman and additional pitching, and a proposed six-player blockbuster trade could address both issues at once.
According to MLB analyst Zach Pressnell of Newsweek, the Yankees could swing a major deal with the St. Louis Cardinals to bring in Nolan Arenado along with two other players.
Yankees would receive:
- Nolan Arenado
- Ryan Helsley
- Miles Mikolas
- $25 million in cash
Cardinals would receive:
- Bryce Cunningham
- Roderick Arias
- Cam Schittler
This deal would mark a significant move for the Yankees, landing them three impactful major leaguers while offsetting some financial burden with $25 million in cash from St. Louis. For the Cardinals, it signals a strong pivot toward rebuilding.
Arenado, a Gold Glove-caliber third baseman with power, has been a rumored Yankees target throughout the offseason. He’s under contract through 2027 on a deal worth $260 million, and would provide New York with elite defense and a key bat in the heart of the lineup.
Reliever Ryan Helsley would further solidify the Yankees’ bullpen. He’s a free agent after the season and has posted a 3.60 ERA in five games so far, converting one of two save opportunities.
Mikolas would bring stability to a Yankees rotation hit hard by injuries. The veteran righty could fill out the back end of the starting staff as a reliable No. 4 or 5 option.
In return, the Cardinals would land three of New York’s top prospects. Bryce Cunningham, the club’s No. 5 prospect, is a right-hander taken in the second round of the 2024 draft. Roderick Arias, ranked seventh, is a promising middle infielder expected to reach the majors by 2027. Cam Schittler, ranked No. 11, is a right-handed pitcher currently at the Double-A level.
Analyst Explains Yankees-Cardinals Blockbuster
MLB analyst Zach Pressnell’s proposed trade would be a true blockbuster—one that appears to align with the current trajectories of both the Yankees and Cardinals.
St. Louis seems to be leaning toward a rebuild, while New York remains firmly committed to contending with its current core. Pressnell also speculates that the Yankees might ultimately cut Miles Mikolas, depending on the state of their rotation when the deal happens.
“This trade is a bit more complicated,” Pressnell noted. “If the Yankees can get Nolan Arenado to approve a move to the Bronx, he’d be the perfect answer at third base. Including Ryan Helsley in the deal would be a major boost, especially given the early struggles from offseason pickup Devin Williams.”
According to Pressnell, Helsley is the main reason the deal carries such a high price tag for New York. Mikolas, on the other hand, would be viewed as a salary dump. The Yankees could waive him post-trade, using the $25 million from St. Louis to help absorb his and Arenado’s salaries.
Landing both Arenado and Helsley would significantly strengthen the Yankees’ roster, positioning them even more strongly as legitimate World Series contenders.
Yankees GM Happy With Team’s Start
The Yankees came into the season as one of the top contenders in the American League to reach the World Series, and so far, they’re living up to expectations.
New York has opened the year with a 7–5 record, sitting atop the AL East—a start that has general manager Brian Cashman feeling optimistic.
“Honestly, we are finding our way,” Cashman told MLB.com. “We have a lot of talent, and we’ll see how it measures up with the season underway. We’ve got some injuries to work through, just like everyone else, but we’re starting to see some of our young core step up—Ben Rice, Austin Wells, Anthony Volpe, and Jasson Domínguez.”
Cashman also highlighted the return of Clarke Schmidt from injury and praised Will Warren, who’s recently stepped into the rotation. “These young guys are being asked to step in and play big roles, and so far they’re doing a great job getting us off to a strong start. I’m excited to see where this takes us,” he added.
Currently, the Yankees have the second-best odds to win the World Series at +900, further reinforcing their status as a top-tier contender.
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