Yankees insider buries Nolan Arenado trade rumors unless something drastic changes

If the New York Yankees were to obtain Nolan Arenado this offseason, it would feel a lot like Roger Clemens' arrival in the Yankees' clubhouse, per Joel Sherman. One minute, he's not even a thought. The next minute, he's scowling and slinking into the pinstripes, pre-crafting an excuse for why he planned to huck a bat at Mike Piazza.

Despite a hole at either third base or second base that still remains, following the departures of Gleyber Torres and Caleb Durbin, paired with the possible position switch for Jazz Chisholm, Arenado reportedly remains off the team's radar.

It makes sense, given his three hefty contract years, regressing bat, and poor fit at Yankee Stadium, but Paul Goldschmidt's arrival and their close relationship had fans (and writers) reconsidering something they'd already written off. Mix in the team's focus on stabilizing defense at as many positions as possible, and the chance that Arenado was floundering on a bad St. Louis team, but would be reignited on a contender, and it wasn't impossible to talk yourself into ...

No. Stop. Take Jack Curry's word at face value, and mix in Sherman's confident statements from Monday, if you're still struggling. Every time the New York Post writer pulled at the threads, he got nothing back from his Yankees sources, in stark contrast to their responses to his Cody Bellinger prods. If Arenado ends up a Yankee, that'll mean the team pulled a 180 after giving off an entirely different variety of signals for months on end.

Yankees showing no interest in Nolan Arenado, per MLB insider Joel Sherman

Staying away from Arenado still feels wise, although Alex Bregman remains tempting, and Sherman insists that the Yankees do value him as a player and as a fit for their 2025 plans and roster. Unfortunately, they value draft picks and long-term flexibility more, so that won't be happening (without a Corbin Burnes-like opt-out).

The options beyond those two are either risky or bleak, but one can confidently say the same about Arenado. Even if Brian Cashman hasn't earned your trust back with his post-Soto shuffle, he'll regain a bit of credibility by just saying no to importing Arenado.

Of course ... there's always the possibility of the surprise (and disheartening) pivot.