Trusted insider Jack Curry ruled the New York Yankees out of the Nolan Arenado market before the Paul Goldschmidt-tinged rumors had even left our collective tongue in December, but with third base still undermanned and spring training approaching, things could change.

It doesn’t seem to be Brian Cashman’s preference that they do change, but if the Cardinals’ desperation reaches heretofore unseen levels, it now seems plausible that the Yankees will at least consider the 34-year-old future Hall of Famer at his current cost. He’s a poor ballpark fit. He’s at the wrong portion of the aging curve. His lingering back issue could cut his career short, much like it did for Don Mattingly in the early ’90s. But he costs … how much?! Yeah, we’ll engage.

When Cardinals head honcho John Mozeliak admitted in mid-January that trading Arenado was their “Plan 1, 2 and 3,” Cashman’s ears had to have perked up a bit. Now, the waiting game has led to St. Louis reportedly “re-engaging” the Yankees, Red Sox and Dodgers on the 10-time Gold Glover in recent days. They also made a minor deal to add infield depth in the form of Michael Helman, a budding Twins utility man. It’s not as if they lacked infield depth before, though, especially with top prospect Thomas Saggese threatening to make the MLB roster soon.

Are the Cardinals adding bodies in anticipation of replacing Arenado? And would they reconsider the Yankees’ offer of shorter-term Marcus Stroman money plus a prospect, which may or may not have even been floated in the first place, but would certainly be nice?

Yankees, Cardinals have reengaged on Nolan Arenado trade. Thank you, Twins!

Arenado remains an imperfect (putting it generously) fit for the Yankees, given his regressive numbers below the hood (sixth percentile barrel percentage, ninth percentile average exit velocity in 2024) and inability to take advantage of Yankee Stadium’s short porch, with his swing instead built to take aim at the ballpark’s spacious left field. Just 12 of his 16 home runs would’ve cleared the fence in the Bronx last season (eight in Baltimore, which … lol).

Fenway Park is a much better home situation for Arenado, but as Denton notes, the Red Sox still prefer Alex Bregman. They also have Triston Casas at first and Rafael Devers at third for the long-term. What’s the point in adding three expensive years of someone worse who also blocks your top prospects from ascending? The Dodgers represent a homecoming pipe dream; they could move Max Muncy, but why upset the apple cart for a player who doesn’t embody the traits they typically prize?

It’s beginning to feel like the Yankees, a Red Sox mistake, or nothing here. Despite Curry’s December Thumbs Down, it’s becoming difficult to rule this out entirely as camp looms.