The 2025 MLB trade deadline is fast approaching, and the New York Yankees are backed into a familiar corner.
After releasing D.J. LeMahieu on July 10, they need a third baseman — urgently — but may lack the trade capital to compete for the top names on the market.
Options are shrinking by the day, and unless the Yankees change course on their top prospects, the best fit left may be St. Louis Cardinals veteran Nolan Arenado, but that’s not ideal, according to CBS Sports’ Mike Axisa.
“Frankly, cutting LeMahieu only to replace him with Arenado wouldn’t make much sense,” Axisa wrote on July 9. “Arenado, 34, is in decline offensively as well, his defense is slipping (but still very good), and he’s owed $40 million through 2027. The Yankees would replace LeMahieu with a player who is a year or two away from being another LeMahieu.”
Yankees’ Farm System Creates Trade Barrier
MLB Pipeline ranked the Yankees’ farm system 24th in the league in March. While names like Spencer Jones, Roderick Arias, and Chase Hampton offer upside, the system is considered top-heavy and shallow. That puts them at a disadvantage against rival contenders like the Blue Jays, Dodgers, Brewers, Mets, and Cubs, all of whom have deeper prospect pools and playoff ambitions.
Potential third base targets like Ke’Bryan Hayes, Ryan McMahon, Eugenio Suárez and Ramón Urías would likely cost the Yankees at least one of their top five prospects. However, the Yankees are not likely to trade top infield prospect George Lombard Jr., the Athletic reported on July 10.
“They’re not going to trade George Lombard Jr.,” the Athletic’s Brendan Kuty reported in his mailbag column. “Other prospects though? Spencer Jones has to be on the table. Ben Hess and Bryce Cunningham (as well).”
That leaves Nolan Arenado, the Cardinals’ slugger, loosely linked to the Yankees for years. The Arenado of 2025, however, isn’t the player he was during his 2019 All-Star campaign.
Through 84 games, the 34-year-old is hitting .241/.301/.393 with just 10 home runs and a .694 OPS. His defensive metrics have slipped, and he’s owed $40 million through 2027.
But for the Yankees, that contract might be a feature, not a bug. The Cardinals could be willing to dump Arenado’s deal to free up payroll, making him a classic “take the money” target. In that scenario, New York might avoid trading top-tier prospects and still walk away with a serviceable upgrade.
Nolan Arenado Holds a No-Trade Clause
The Cardinals could explore multiple sell-off scenarios ahead of the deadline, including listening on Sonny Gray and Erick Fedde.
The Cardinals will “be making a decision” on the veteran Fedde, according to the Sporting News’ Matt Sullivan, who wrote on July 7 that manager Oli Marmol didn’t “outright say that Fedde is going to be cut, traded, or demoted, he is insinuating that the Cardinals will be making a decision on the veteran starter in the future.”
If they shift into full retool mode, shedding Arenado’s contract could become a priority, especially if it means avoiding a complete rebuild.
The catch? Arenado holds a no-trade clause and must approve any move to the Bronx. Still, the Yankees are among the few teams with the need and financial muscle to absorb his deal.
In the meantime, the Yankees have tried to plug the third base hole with internal options like Oswald Peraza, Jorbit Vivas, and J.C. Escarra. The results have been grim. Peraza is hitting just .214 with no power. LeMahieu was DFA’d. The offense has flatlined.
They have also signed Nicky Lopez and Jeimer Candelario to minor league deals. So far, that has not panned out. Lopez has no power, and Candelario is slashing .083/.154/.083 with a .237 OPS with the Yankees in Triple-A.
Other trade targets like Isiah Kiner-Falefa might be more affordable, but they don’t move the needle. If New York wants a real fix, it needs an experienced name—even if that name is past its prime.
Unless Cashman shocks the league by parting with someone like Lombard Jr., the Yankees may find themselves boxed into one choice at third base: take on Arenado’s deal or punt the position entirely.
It wouldn’t be a bold move, but it might be the only one they can afford.
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