The New York Yankees have been struggling with a noticeable gap in their infield ever since Gleyber Torres was traded to the Detroit Tigers. With no standout infield prospects ready to step in at third base, the Yankees will either need to make a trade or rely on DJ LeMahieu to fill the role.
Recently, another issue arose for the Yankees’ roster. Starting pitcher Luis Gil will be out for at least a month due to a lat strain, and ace Gerrit Cole is expected to miss the entire 2025 season following UCL surgery.
To remain competitive in the American League Pennant race and the World Series, the Yankees need to add both an infielder and a starting pitcher, but so far, they haven’t made moves to address either need.
One potential option for the Yankees could be a major trade with the St. Louis Cardinals, acquiring both Nolan Arenado and Sonny Gray. However, there’s a significant obstacle. While the Yankees have been linked to Arenado, two issues have prevented a deal. First, Brian Cashman appears reluctant to take on much of Arenado’s contract. Second, Arenado reportedly hasn’t waived his no-trade clause to accept a move to New York.
Another possibility is reuniting with starting pitcher Sonny Gray, who has been outstanding in recent seasons. Adding Gray would give the Yankees a reliable starter in a rotation that currently has many uncertainties. But what would this blockbuster deal look like?
If Arenado were to waive his no-trade clause, the next step would involve securing a trade for both him and Gray. The catch? Cashman would likely need to absorb most, if not all, of the remaining contracts for both players.
This would put a significant strain on the payroll but could reduce the need to part with top prospects. Instead, the Yankees could likely keep most of their best young players and only trade away a few lower-level prospects in this hypothetical deal.
It would essentially be a salary dump for the Cardinals, adding a significant amount of money to the Yankees’ payroll. However, New York would successfully address two major weaknesses with two star players.
