Yankees won’t have chance to sign Nolan Arenado after all

This offseason, the Yankees were linked to possibly adding Nolan Arenado to their slew of former Rockies come next winter. Following his contract extension on Tuesday, not trading Miguel Andujar looks an even wiser move.

As Joel Sherman of the New York Post recently wrote, one reason why the Yankees passed on Manny Machado this offseason was because they honestly believed they would be a potential suitor for free-agent-to-be Nolan Arenado next winter.

Well, that ship has sailed as Arenado, and the Colorado Rockies have come to a massive contract extension — eight years, $260 million ($32M AAV) with an opt-out after the third year and a full no-trade clause.

Once Arenado agreed to $26 million for the upcoming season, thereby avoiding arbitration while setting the single-season record for an arbitration-eligible player, it was assumed that Colorado would do all they could to lock up their six-time Gold Glove winner.

Even still, the Yankees used the allure of Arenado to the Bronx as a way to calm the waters of never truly engaging Machado, and at the same time, giving 2018 AL Rookie of the Year Runner-Up, Miguel Andujar an extra season to prove he can improve defensively.

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While the latter remains a realistic possibility, it makes the signing of two-time Gold Glover, D.J. LeMahieu that much more important, especially in year two of his contract.

Should Andujar be unable to cure his inaccurate throws across the diamond, or his sometimes problematic footwork, LeMahieu will be called upon to man the hot corner. So long as Andujar hits like he did last season, manager Aaron Boone should have no problem shifting Andujar to the DH role.

Hopefully, Andujar becomes a pillar of stability for the Bombers at third base, and the organization never has to look back at what could have been; you know, like if they had actually made an offer to Manny Machado. Naturally, it’s easy to say the Yankees don’t need Machado or Arenado (especially with their bloated salaries), but let’s see how 2019 plays out first.

Although it’s entirely too early to focus on, some intriguing free agent names that the Yankees could consider next offseason at a variety of positions include Paul Goldschmidt, Anthony Rendon, Jose Abreu, Khris Davis, Marcell Ozuna, Madison Bumgarner, Gerrit Cole, Justin Verlander and Rick Porcello.

Over the past week, the Yanks have come to extensions with Luis Severino and Aaron Hicks — so perhaps before the year is out, they will have decided what to do with their own free agents, namely Didi Gregorius and Dellin Betances.

This offseason, the Yankees were linked to possibly adding Nolan Arenado to their slew of former Rockies come next winter. Following his contract extension on Tuesday, not trading Miguel Andujar looks an even wiser move.

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