Cardinals' latest attempt to force Yankees into Nolan Arenado trade couldn't be clearer

Despite the New York Yankees' insistence on an internal third base competition, the St. Louis Cardinals are still trying to make fetch happen. And, given the Giancarlo Stanton injury, the long-closed Deal Door may have opened just a crack ahead of the Yankees and Cardinals' first spring training showdown on Wednesday afternoon.

Credit to St. Louis' management. They've seen that tiny crack and wedged their entire leg in there.

Wednesday's Cardinals-Yankees tilt is taking place in Tampa, FL, over three hours away from the Cards' home in Jupiter. Typically, veterans don't make the long bus ride for just one road game.

But hey, if trading Nolan Arenado is your admitted "Plan 1, 2, 3," as John Mozeliak stated in January, then you try to talk to the player and make a special exception. Not only will Arenado be in Wednesday's lineup, but he'll be hitting cleanup. After the game ends, will he be sticking around town for a while?

St. Louis Cardinals create Nolan Arenado showcase for Yankees in Wednesday's spring training game

Combine this "chess move" with Marcus Stroman staying home to throw a live BP session instead of participating in game action, followed by the potentially tempting Will Warren starting Wednesday's game for the Yankees, and you just may have something here (please don't trade Warren for Arenado).

The Yankees' cold fish interest in Arenado has always made plenty of sense, even as they've intentionally kept third base vacant and confusing (DJ LeMahieu, supposedly in need of reps to compete for the job, has yet to appear in a game).

Arenado has three years and $71 million remaining on his contract. He was decidedly average with the bat and slipping last season, and Yankee Stadium's dimensions would do him no favors as a pull-happy righty targeting the deepest gap. If New York is going to take on a Gold Glove third baseman with a lingering back issue/bat issue, they're going to need some financial reassurance. 50% split? Think even more generous.

However, the Cardinals' desperation is starting to show. If the Yankees can get St. Louis to eat enough money and take on Stroman's one (or maybe two) years in exchange for Arenado's three, there's very little reason not to come to an accord and solve multiple problems here. A big afternoon, with Oswald Peraza looking on from the third base bag, could further change the calculus.

At least, that's what St. Louis is hoping for. When do the Cards travel to face the Astros?