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Yankees Among Potential Landing Spots for Cardinals’ Nolan Arenado

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By A. Kazmierczak | Last updated Jun 24, 2025 11:50 AM ET

With the July 31 deadline a little over a month away, ESPN insiders Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan unveiled a list of 50 potential trade candidates on Tuesday.

Players were ranked by the potential value they'd bring to their new team and not by their chances of being dealt. Topping the five St. Louis Cardinals on the list was third baseman Nolan Arenado, who checked in at No. 21.

"Arenado is around a career best in strikeout rate, and he's still an above-average defender, but his power and patience are both trending down to around the worst of his career." McDaniel and Passan wrote.

The 34-year-old is slashing .251/.313/.405, well below his career average of .284/.340/.511. Arenado's home run numbers have also seen a dip in recent years. He hit 90 home runs in his first three seasons with the Cardinals and has hit just 26 since the start of 2024.

However, the 10-time gold glover has committed only three errors this season at the hot corner, and his .985 fielding percentage is second best in MLB among qualified third basemen.

"He's still a solid starter but no longer a star, and the team taking him on a deal would still have to pay him like one. Potentially complicating any deal: a full no-trade clause."

McDaniel and Passan placed a 30% likelihood of Arenado getting traded, and named the New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers, Milwaukee Brewers and Seattle Mariners as "best fits" for his services. Neither of the four teams, however, were on Arenado's list of six teams he's willing to accept a trade to.

Led by closer Ryan Helsley (No. 23), four Cardinals pitchers also made McDaniel and Passan's ever evolving list - Erick Fedde (No. 30), Phil Maton (No. 45), and Steven Matz (No. 50).

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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