New York Yankees Trying To Trade For David Freese

All the talk around the New York Yankees has centered around their interest in free agency by talking to agents. Now, the talk is centered around a potential trade target that could fill a gaping hole at third base both now and in the future.

According to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News, the Yankees are in trade talks with the St. Louis Cardinals to acquire third baseman David Freese. If the Alex Rodriguez suspension does go for the entire 2014 season, New York is going to need a third baseman. Yes, the team has spoken to players such as former third baseman Eric Chavez, but Freese would make perfect sense for the Yankees.

Oct 28, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third baseman

(23) reacts after a double against the Boston Red Sox during the eighth inning of game five of the MLB baseball World Series at Busch Stadium. (Photo Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports)

The Cardinals won’t likely give up Freese for cheap, but with Carlos Beltran likely gone via free agency, the Yankees have the outfield prospects that the Cardinals would want in a trade. The Yankees also would have Freese for two years under their control and is only in his second year of arbitration. According to an article written on YESNetwork.com, Lou Dipietro discusses that with arbitration, Freese would most likely make $4 million next year due to his down year this past season. He hit .262 with just nine home runs and 60 RBI’s.

However, Freese is just 31 years old and the less money the Yankees spend on certain positions, the more money they will have to spend on high caliber free agents over the next few weeks. We all remember the Cardinals’ third baseman from 2011 when he had the walk-off home run in Game 6 of the World Series to save the Cardinals’ season. He had 21 RBI’s in the postseason that year and was named the World Series MVP.

We will see what the asking price is on Freese going forward from the Cardinals considering they have the depth at the infield positions by potentially moving Matt Carpenter to third base and Kolten Wong to second base. Even if Alex Rodriguez is on the roster, the Yankees could use A-Rod at the DH spot more and have Freese be the everyday third baseman.

To read more about Freese from the Cardinals’ perspective, visit RedbirdRants.com to get editor Daniel Solzman’s take. Here is a small excerpt of Daniel’s take:

"Moving Freese is no surprise with the rise of Kolten Wong at second base. Matt Carpenter‘s natural position is third base so most expected something to happen with Freese.  It’s an arbitration year for Freese and the Cards certainly would not want to pay him big bucks to be a backup player–certainly if he wouldn’t be getting most of the starting time."

UPDATE (6:30 PM ET): According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports and MLB Network (via Twitter), the David Freese to Yankees rumors are dead. He states the Yankees have little to offer the Cardinals and that they can’t find a match.