Nolan Arenado trade idea would see Yankees lose out to AL rival

The New York Yankees have been long searching for a third baseman. Nolan Arenado figures to be available near the trade deadline, but the Yankees could lose him to a different needy team.

The Detroit Tigers are currently playing Andy Ibáñez and Jace Jung at third base, but could be looking for an upgrade. The Tigers are 22-13 to start the season after their improbable run to the postseason last year. The Athletic's Jim Bowden proposed this trade that would send Arenado from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Tigers:

• Tigers receive: third baseman Nolan Arenado
• Cardinals receive: right-handed pitcher Josh Randall and third baseman Carson Rucker

"If Arenado approves a trade to Detroit, coming up with a prospect package should be far less difficult than agreeing on how much of his remaining salary St. Louis would absorb," wrote Bowden. "Entering this year, the Cardinals owed Arenado $64 million on his contract through 2027. (The Rockies, his former team, owe him an additional $10 million over the next two years as part of the Colorado-St. Louis trade in 2021.) Two low-level prospects should be sufficient for the Cardinals as this deal would be more about opening up opportunities for young players such as Nolan Gorman. Perhaps a package of Randall and Rucker would work."

The Tigers are shaping up to be a real threat to the Yankees in the American League. They went 39-26 to end the 2024 season and proceeded to sweep the Houston Astros in the AL Wild Card. They lost to the Cleveland Guardians in five games in the AL Division Series.

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The Yankees are 19-15 to start the year, and Aaron Judge is looking like a candidate for MVP, again. The team has been using Oswaldo Cabrera at third base. He has been fine, but he had a strong start last season as well, before regressing. DJ LeMahieu figures to play third base when he returns, but he is no longer a reliable player like he once was.

The Yankees will surely be one of the teams that inquire about Arenado as they look to get back to the World Series. If he lands with a team like the Tigers, the Yankees could be in serious trouble. He is slashing .254/.341/.402 with three home runs and 14 RBI. He could be a real asset for any contender.

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