MLB Trade Rumors: Nolan Arenado to the New York Yankees can still happen
Fernando Tatis Jr. is currently working on his redemption after a difficult period in 2022 during which he was caught taking the performance-enhancing drug Clostebol. His troubles did not end with his 80-game suspension for his acts, though, as he sustained a wrist injury that season that prevented him from playing at all. Then, in 2023, the San Diego Padres star's output and marketability as one of MLB's most promising young players declined.
The Padres star, who has settled into right field, is getting back on track. He recovered in 2024 and was among the team's most effective players during their five-game NLDS loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
And based on his most recent action, it appears that the 26-year-old Dominican Republic star is determined to establish a bigger reputation for himself going forward.
Perhaps in an effort to increase his marketability, Tatis "is considering hiring Bad Bunny's Rimas group to personally manage him," according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. As you may remember, Bad Bunny is not only one of the largest music stars, but he also proudly and loudly represents Puerto Rico, so maybe the Padres player would benefit greatly from collaborating with one of the most likable figures in the Latino community.
The 2025 Major League Baseball season is rapidly approaching, but Nolan Arenado, the outstanding third baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals, who has been the subject of numerous trade speculations, is still with the Cards. The New York Yankees are still a possible destination for Arenado, so the Cardinals still have time to move him.
If Arenado hadn't used his complete no-trade clause to stop the Cardinals' attempt to sell him to the Houston Astros last December, he would have already been getting ready in spring training with another team. But according to ESPN's Jorge Castillo, an Arenado deal is "likely" to occur before the 2025 deadline.
"The Cardinals would undoubtedly have to forgo a portion of the funds in order to make a trade possible. They reached an agreement with the Houston Astros in December, but Arenado, who has a complete no-trade clause, blocked the transaction, so it's likely to happen sometime in 2025," Castillo said.
Perhaps it will be with the Yankees, who in December acquired Paul Goldschmidt, a former first baseman for the Cardinals and a close buddy of Arenado. However, for the time being, the Yankees are getting by with what they have.
Before hitting MLB free agency in his age 37 season, Arenado, who inked a huge eight-year deal extension worth $260 million with the Colorado Rockies in 2019, will get $21 million in 2025, $16 million in 2026, and $15 million in 2027.
Arenado, 33, is hoping to recover from a disappointing season. Through 152 games in 2024, the eight-time All-Star and ten-time Gold Glove winner only managed to hit.272/.325/.394 with 16 home runs and 71 RBIs. That season, he had his lowest OPS+ (101) in a non-COVID season since his rookie campaign with the Rockies.
DJ LeMahieu, Oswaldo Cabrera, Oswald Peraza, and Jorbit Vivas are the Yankees' third-base alternatives. However, LeMahieu may be sidelined for some time due to a calf injury sustained during last Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros.
According to FanGraphs, the Yankees were only 18th in the major leagues in 2024 with a third-base wOBA of.299 and only 17th with a third-base wRC+ of 94. With a wRC+ of 130, Jazz Chisholm Jr. topped all Yankees third basemen with at least 50 plate appearances; however, once Gleyber Torres left, the Yankees moved Chisholm to second base.
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