The New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals reportedly explored a trade earlier this offseason, according to of MLB Trade Rumors. Citing an MLB.com report, Franco revealed that the Yankees proposed sending starting pitcher Marcus Stroman to the Cardinals in exchange for Gold Glove third baseman Nolan Arenado.
“Earlier this offseason, the Cardinals rejected a trade offer from the Yankees that would’ve sent Marcus Stroman to St. Louis in exchange for Nolan Arenado,” Franco wrote, referencing a report by Mark Feinsand, John Denton, and Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. “It’s unclear if Arenado would have approved the trade, as the Cardinals reportedly didn’t present it to him, citing their lack of interest in Stroman.”
For the Yankees, this deal would have been ideal. Arenado would fill their significant need at third base, while Stroman is considered expendable given New York’s strong rotation, featuring Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, Clark Schmidt, and Luis Gil. As the odd man out, Stroman’s high salary makes him a trade candidate.
However, the Cardinals had little incentive to accept the offer. Stroman wouldn’t bring them much value, nor would the trade provide financial relief—the primary reason St. Louis is reportedly considering moving Arenado.
Adding another layer of complexity, Arenado holds a no-trade clause. Reports suggest the Yankees were not on his list of approved teams, so it remains uncertain whether he would have agreed to the trade even if it had advanced further.
Leave a Reply