The New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals are headed in opposite directions. Will that facilitate a major trade this winter?
On one side, the Yankees are in full-on desperation mode. They just lost the World Series in embarrassing fashion, they're mired in an uncharacteristic 15-year title drought, and they're fighting for their lives to keep superstar outfielder Juan Soto.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals look to be entering a mini-rebuild. They have some talented pieces, but their roster slowly started aging out of contender status, and several of their expensive veterans flat-out failed to perform in 2024.
All the ingredients are there for the two sides to make a deal. But one recent proposed blockbuster would make the entire Major League Baseball community drop their jaws in unison.
Recently, Matt Musico of Newsweek proposed that the Yankees could acquire 10-time Gold Glove third baseman Nolan Arenado, on-base expert outfielder Lars Nootbaar, and reliever Ryan Fernandez in exchange for their longtime top prospect, outfielder Jasson Domínguez.
"Dominguez brings top prospect pedigree, but the soon-to-be 22-year-old is far from a sure thing and shaky defensively. (Trent) Grisham is better as a fourth outfielder and as Judge continues aging, it would be better if he didn't spend most of his playing time in center field," Musico said.
"Arenado has a no-trade clause in his eight-year, $260 million contract, but his name has been churning through the rumor mill as the Cardinals mull a reset... Nootbar is a primary center fielder, which would allow Judge to move to a corner to preserve his body better."
To Musico's credit, it's an intriguing move that would make the Yankees scarier in 2025, regardless of whether or not they land Soto, while giving the Cardinals a potential new superstar. But there are also some red flags.
Giving up Domínguez has been something of a cursed suggestion in Yankees circles, so it's possible the deal is a non-starter from that perspective alone. Plus, the Cardinals giving up three quality big-leaguers in exchange for one unestablished one is a tough sell when they're looking to restock the roster.
Crazier things have certainly happened, but it feels as though the likelier deal for both sides would involve just Arenado from the Cardinals' side, and keep Domínguez in pinstripes.
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