Paul Goldschmidt's high Nolan Arenado praise creates new Yankees waiting game

While the Yankees' most plugged-in reporters have been as adamant as they can be that New York has had very little interest in a Nolan Arenado trade this offseason, that hasn't stopped the buzz from restarting a few times.

In the immediate wake of Paul Goldschmidt joining the Yankees in late December, it felt natural to connect the two parties in a deal that would've ostensibly completed the infield (and banked on an offensive return to form for the 10-time Gold Glover). Instead, Jack Curry put the kibosh on things before the rumor mill could really get cranked all the way up.

Did the Yankees offer Marcus Stroman, then get disheartened when St. Louis balked? We'll never know. But with just over a month to go before Opening Day, Arenado is still wearing the same old uniform, and John Mozeliak's stated desperation from mid-January still has yet to turn into anything. Could the Cardinals get two levels sweatier and eat enough money to make the risks worth the Yankees' while?

If you ask Goldschmidt, they certainly shouldn't be afraid to bet on his old cohort. The Athletic caught up with the Yankees' new first baseman at camp this week, who couldn't say enough about Arenado's competitive fire.

"It doesn’t matter if the team’s winning and he’s got four hits. He wants to get that fifth hit," Goldschmidt gushed. "He’s such a competitor. He makes the people around him better."

Yankees' new first baseman Paul Goldschmidt brings Nolan Arenado rumors back to the forefront

If you think the message hasn't gotten to Aaron Judge yet, you're kidding yourself.

Regardless of which uniform they wear in 2025, Arenado and Goldschmidt share the same mission: prove that what worked for the better part of their careers still does, or that they can adjust to the aging curve after being discarded last summer.

Goldschmidt has the potential to be a beloved one-year Yankee after using a second-half .799 OPS to salvage a down year. Arenado, after battling back issues, must pair his elite glove with a semblance of offense; a 101 OPS+ season in 2024, following a 108 campaign, seems like a dangerous downward trend. Yankee Stadium, a poor home field fit, would represent another obstacle in that regard.

At the very least, though, Arenado possesses competitive fire and has trusted voices advocating for him in the Yankees' locker room. After the DJ LeMahieu/Oswaldo Cabrera/Oswald Peraza triumvirate has a few weeks of spring training competition under their belts, we'll see if that sway holds any weight (either now or at the trade deadline).