Trusted Yankees insider reignites Nolan Arenado trade buzz to break offseason silence

It's getting quiet. Too quiet. So what does that mean? Start cooking up trade scenarios, New York Yankees fans! Something's gotta happen between now and the start of spring training if the Bombers want to head into the 2025 season fully prepared.

On Monday, we learned former Yankee Michael King is reportedly being dangled in trade talks. Alex Bregman could be had if somebody wants to out-bid the Astros, Tigers and Red Sox. We know Tim Hill and Andrew Chafin are still out there for the taking, among other options.

But Yankees insider Bryan Hoch thinks another move could be on the horizon first. On SNY's "Baseball Night in New York" Monday evening, Hoch said he's "waiting for [the Yankees] to come back around on Nolan Arenado."

Were they that serious about acquiring the first time around? YES Network's Jack Curry fully rebuffed that possibility during the holidays while other buzz suggested a deal never got close and that there wasn't much interest on the Yankees' end to import another aging player with a financial commitment of three years.

Still, though, most would argue that this wouldn't be a bad move. Sure, it might not pay off in 2027, but Arenado can be an immediate upgrade each of the next two seasons even with the Yankees' payroll currently approaching the Cohen Tax threshold.

Yankees Rumors: Is Nolan Arenado trade still on the table for NYY?

A little over a week ago, Cardinals GM John Mozeliak said the team was still determined to trade Arenado but were stuck in a holding pattern due to the stagnant free agent market. Bregman still being available isn't helping them at all.

At this point, we know the Yankees are probably nowhere close to considering Bregman as they wait out his eventual decision. And from their perspective (though we would disagree), they might feel they have all the time in the world with Jazz Chisholm, DJ LeMahieu and Oswaldo Cabrera as third base options heading into spring training.

The acquisition cost here won't be prohibitive. The Cardinals have no leverage, and part of Arenado's contract is being paid off by the Colorado Rockies. It comes down to Arenado entering his age-34 season as he continues to battle troubling back issues that could see him fall off a cliff production-wise.

The Yankees have been on the wrong end of many trade acquisitions that went sour, so there's an understanding here why they might be hesitant, if that's part of the problem. But Hoch perhaps just revealed there's still interest on the Arenado front as New York waits for other big-name players to make their decisions in order for the path to be cleared in their favor.