The Yankees aren’t trading for Nolan Arenado. Despite ongoing rumors linking the Cardinals’ star third baseman to New York, the team has reached its financial limit, according to Jon Heyman of The New York Post.
That’s going to leave the Yankees sorting through internal options at third base. DJ LeMahieu, Oswald Peraza, and Oswaldo Cabrera are competing for the starting job in what Heyman calls the team’s “first open, many-man tryout at third since 1991.”
It’s not hard to see why Arenado was an appealing target. The eight-time All-Star would’ve been a perfect fit for the Yankees’ win-now roster after hitting .272 with 16 homers and 71 RBIs last season. But the numbers just don’t work.
The Yankees’ payroll sits at $283 million, per Spotrac. Arenado’s still owed $52 million over the next three seasons – $21 million in 2025, $16 million in 2026, and $15 million in 2027. Unless the Cardinals were willing to eat a significant portion of that contract, there’s just no path to making a deal work.
That’s where the internal competition comes in. The Yankees have built what Heyman calls “an exceptional all-around team,” but they’ll need to solve their third base situation before opening day against the Brewers on March 27.
LeMahieu’s got the most experience, but Peraza’s shown flashes of potential when he’s gotten playing time. Cabrera brings versatility to the equation, though he’s probably the darkest horse in this race.
The way things are shaping up, the Yankees might be running this competition right up until the season starts. Sometimes the best moves are the ones you don’t make – we’ll see if that holds true here.
