MLB Trade Rumors: Cardinals “Reengage” With Yankees to Move Superstar Third Baseman But a $18M Dilemma Halts Talks

The St. Louis Cardinals are still open to the contending teams for Nolan Arenado trading. After a botched attempt to trade him to the Astros, the talk is still on with the Red Sox and Yankees. The now-rejected offer by the Cardinals of getting Marcus Stroman from the Yankees is again reportedly re-engaged. Well, with the off-season coming to an end and spring training around the corner, the Cardinals are gasping for better trading prospects. So, are the Cardinals going to trade with the Yankees?

The Cardinals are just trying to make things work on their way, but calling a spade a spade will not work. They can’t trade Arenado with all benefits and not absorb a part of his costs, and even if that is not to be absorbed, the Yankees’ offer is the best available. The Yankees are the most logical fit for Arenado considering he deserves a contending team, but it is the dilemma of getting Stroman back that is holding the talk. What is causing the dilemma in accepting Stroman?

The Cardinals’ desperation to trade Nolan Arenado goes back to multiple reasons, including Arenado’s willingness to get behind with a contending team and the Cardinals’ plan of freeing up finances and focusing on young talent buildup. The trading window is about to close, and what are the Cardinals waiting for? Arenado would have been traded to the Astros much before if he was willing to. Remember Arenado’s no-trade clause during the Astros’ deal? He is more willing to land on a top-tier team, and hence, the Yankees are still in contention. 

Arenado ended 2024 with 16 HRs and 71 RBIs, and that’s a down for the 10x Golden Glove winner considering before 2024, he was hitting 30 homers in the last seven seasons. So, considering his downward trend, trading Arenado seems like a good option for the Cardinals. After losing out on the postseason last year, they have pressed the reboot button and built up their core with young talents. Arenado is in his thirties now, thus not getting with the Cardinals’ long-term plan. Divorce seems the best option here, with both entities willing to part ways. So why not get the Yankees to trade?

Roadblocks are still evident for the St. Louis Cardinals

If Nolan Arenado is willing to get with the Yankees, then what is the dilemma with the Cardinals? Well, Arenado owes $32 million this year, out of which the Rockies, his ex-team before the Cardinals, will absorb $5 million, and another $6 million is deferred. Thus the Cardinals are going to free $21 million by trading Arenado. On the other hand, Stroman from the Yankees is coming with $18 million, leaving the St. Louis Cardinals with $3 million to save. Not worthy enough to trade someone like Arenada then. 

Stroman as a pitcher is coming with a 10-9 record and a 4.31 ERA from last year, but his age is on his side. The Cardinals are willing to get young blood in the team; Stroman, aged 33, does not fit the bill. It is still inconclusive if the Yankees are going to offer anyone else or if they will absorb some of the dues of Stroman, but re-engagement of talks is the only hope for the fans now. The Cardinals, though, have the Red Sox offer in hand with a chance of getting prospects like star outfielder Roman Anthony and shortstop Marcelo Mayer. 

The talks between the St. Louis Cardinals and Yankees are on but yet to find any way out. The offseason is about to end, and the fans need to wait to see if the Cardinals’ dilemma got worked out. What do you think about Arenado’s trading to the Yankees? Share your thoughts with us below.