Yankees make decision on $74 million 8-time All-Star after trade update

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The New York Yankees have been aggressive after making it to the World Series this past season.

The team was in the final bidding to lock up superstar Juan Soto before he took a historic contract with the New York Mets instead. In a monumental pivot, the Yankees added a slew of perennial All-Stars, including Cody Bellinger, Paul Goldschmidt, Devin Williams and Max Fried.

But the team still faces a significant hole in the infield, as Gleyber Torres has departed, leaving Jazz Chisholm Jr. to man either second or third base with no clear answer about whichever position is left open.

This question, along with the Yankees’ willingness to acquire decorated veteran talent, has fueled trade rumors around St. Louis Cardinals star Nolan Arenado. With the Cardinals entering a rebuild, the team has been actively shopping Arenado and he’s a strong fit for a contending team in search of a third baseman, like the Yankees.

But the latest update suggests a move for Arenado won’t be imminent.

“Neither Arenado nor (Cardinals executive) John Mozeliak has closed the door on a trade but it doesn’t seem like anything is likely to happen anytime soon,” Cardinals insider Katie Woo said during an appearance on “Foul Territory” on Thursday. “We know that Nolan gave Mozeliak five teams that he would consider a trade to. (And) he’s not going to expand that list. Among those destinations, the Red Sox, the Yankees, the Dodgers, the Padres didn’t really seem to have a fit.”

Shortly following Woo’s update, Yankees insider Jon Heyman reported that the Yankees had made a decision about a pursuit of Arenado with a clear headline:  “Yankees want no part of Nolan Arenado as lineup issue looms.”

“Despite not having a clear-cut 3B, the Yankees continue to have no interest in Nolan Arenado, as they see him being on the decline,” Heyman wrote. “They also have no money left (and he has $74 million to go over three years).”

Though Arenado does seem to be declining offensively, his defensive production has remained top tier and he has eight All-Star nods to his name, suggesting he is still an above-average option at the hot corner even at age 33.

But as Arenado now seems set to stay in St. Louis for the foreseeable future, it looks like the Yankees have made their decision.

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Peter Chawaga

Peter Chawaga is a veteran journalist covering Major League Baseball for The Sporting News. His MLB reporting has included feature interviews with commissioner Rob Manfred and Hall of Fame slugger David Ortiz, salary analysis, player rankings and more. He has covered baseball for Forbes, Yardbarker, Pitcher List, Athlon and other outlets.

With over ten years of newsroom experience, he has previously covered finance, technology, arts, and culture for newspapers, magazines, and websites nationwide. He graduated from Wake Forest University with a degree in English and journalism.