The Yankees’ hunt for a third baseman could face unexpected competition from the surging Tigers, who might make a play for Cardinals star Nolan Arenado before the trade deadline.
Detroit has started the season 22-13 while relying on Andy Ibáñez and Jace Jung at third base, continuing their momentum after last year’s surprise playoff appearance. The Athletic’s Jim Bowden believes they’re positioned to make a significant move for Arenado, proposing this potential trade:
- Tigers receive: Nolan Arenado
- Cardinals receive: RHP Josh Randall and 3B 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,” Bowden wrote. “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 aren’t just making noise—they’re emerging as a legitimate threat in the American League. They closed 2024 with a 39-26 run before sweeping the Astros in the Wild Card round. Their playoff journey ended against Cleveland in the ALDS, but they’ve clearly built on that success.
Yankees’ Third Base Situation
Meanwhile, the Yankees sit at 19-15 with Aaron Judge looking like an MVP candidate again. But their third base situation remains unsettled. Oswaldo Cabrera has been adequate so far, but he showed similar early promise last season before fading. DJ LeMahieu is expected to take over the position when he returns from injury, though he’s no longer the consistent performer he once was.
The Yankees will certainly be calling St. Louis about Arenado. The 33-year-old third baseman is slashing .254/.341/.402 with three homers and 14 RBI this season—not his typical All-Star numbers, but still an upgrade for most contenders.
What makes this interesting is how a Tigers-Arenado pairing could directly impact the Yankees’ championship hopes. If Detroit adds a player of Arenado’s caliber to their already impressive start, they could become the kind of team nobody wants to face in October—including New York.
