Earlier this offseason, the Cardinals declined a suggestion from the Yankees that would’ve despatched Marcus Stroman to St. Louis for Nolan Arenado, in line with a report from Mark Feinsand, John Denton and Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. It’s unknown whether or not Arenado would have authorized that commerce. MLB.com stories that the Cardinals by no means introduced it to the star third baseman as a result of they have been tired of buying Stroman.
That’s to not say that talks between the golf equipment on Arenado are completed. The Yankees nonetheless have wants at each nook infield positions. Feinsand, Denton and Hoch report that they’re exhibiting elevated curiosity in Paul Goldschmidt at first base. They write that signing Goldschmidt may make Arenado extra more likely to waive his no-trade clause to hitch his former teammate as a nook infield tandem within the Bronx.
Varied stories have tied the Yankees to Goldschmidt all through this week. It appears they’ll flip to one of many short-term free agent choices to improve first base. Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic reported on Thursday that the Yankees have been more and more more likely to pursue a extra reasonably priced first baseman than to spend on the high of the marketplace for Pete Alonso or Christian Walker. Walker, whom the Yankees had reportedly most popular to Alonso, has subsequently come off the board on a $60MM deal to Houston.
Curiously, Goldschmidt’s asking worth may itself show a sticking level. Most predictions, MLBTR’s included, assumed he’d signal a one-year deal as he enters his age-37 season. Feinsand, Denton and Hoch report that Goldschmidt is in search of a number of years. That doesn’t assure he’ll discover a two-year deal, after all, which might be a lofty ask coming off a middling season.
Goldschmidt hit .245/.302/.414 with 22 homers throughout his ultimate yr in St. Louis. He posted career-worst strikeout and stroll charges with general offense that measured precisely league common. Goldschmidt had a greater second half after a dismal begin to the season, however the general numbers are worrisome given his age. MLBTR felt he’d safe $15MM on a one-year deal.
Cash can be a complicating issue on Arenado. Even when the Yankees signed Goldschmidt and Arenado have been keen to play there, they’d nonetheless want to search out an agreeable return with St. Louis. The Cardinals owe the eight-time All-Star $64MM over the subsequent three seasons, whereas the Rockies are on the hook for one more $10MM between 2025-26. (Colorado’s obligations would carry over within the occasion of a commerce.) $12MM of the Cardinals’ $64MM is deferred. MLB.com writes that the online current worth of what St. Louis owes is round $60MM.
The Cardinals try to shed at the very least the overwhelming majority of that deal. Katie Woo and Chandler Rome of The Athletic reported that the Astros would’ve absorbed round $45MM had Arenado not vetoed the proposed commerce to Houston earlier this week. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported in a different way, writing that Houston would have taken $59MM. In both case, the Cardinals would have shed many of the cash.
Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Submit-Dispatch wrote this afternoon that the extent of the Yankees’ curiosity in Arenado depends upon how a lot of the deal the Cardinals would cowl. Whereas it’s not recognized how a lot the Yankees need St. Louis to eat, their proposal of Stroman would’ve been a monetary counterbalance. The righty will make $18MM subsequent season and would set off an identical participant choice for 2026 if he throws 140 innings. An Arenado/Stroman swap would’ve gotten the Cardinals off the hook for the previous’s salaries in 2026-27, however it will not have represented a big minimize subsequent season.
Arenado has a $32MM wage subsequent yr, $5MM of which is Colorado’s accountability. One other $6MM is deferred, so the instant financial savings for St. Louis would solely have been $3MM. The Cardinals may have tried to flip Stroman themselves. The righty is coming off a 4.31 ERA over 154 2/3 innings. His wage is above market however not egregiously so, however it doesn’t appear the Cardinals had any curiosity in that sequence of strikes.
A participant’s aggressive steadiness tax quantity resets in the event that they’re traded. Assuming the NPV on Arenado’s contract is round three years and $60MM, he’d carry an approximate $20MM luxurious tax hit for an buying group if the Cardinals didn’t eat any cash. RosterResource calculates New York’s luxurious tax quantity round $287MM. Signing Goldschmidt or taking most of Arenado’s contract would push them past the $301MM ultimate tax tier. Doing each would vault them properly past $301MM, which comes with a 110% tax on each greenback spent from that time.
