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Try it freeTAMPA — Time will tell whether Nolan Arenado appears on the Yankees’ radar.
In a curious development Wednesday, he appeared on their spring home field.
Arenado, the very much available Cardinals third baseman, became a rare longtime, proven veteran to embark on a lengthy Grapefruit League road trip.
The 12-year major leaguer drove the three-plus hours across Florida to play at Steinbrenner Field for what was a 7-0 Yankees win.
The eight-time All-Star is on the trade block, but no, he said, he was not trying to show himself off for the Yankees.
“I didn’t come here for that,” Arenado said. “Day 3 of spring training, that wouldn’t be a good day to showcase myself.”
He said he wanted to see longtime teammate Paul Goldschmidt and longtime friend DJ LeMahieu, along with a personal trainer who works in the area.
He also had not played Tuesday and did not want to sit for two consecutive days.
Regardless of the precise circumstances, the Yankees saw firsthand seven innings of a high-profile potential trade target.
Of course, even four home runs would not have swayed the Yankees into immediate action, and the reality (0-for-3 with two strikeouts and a flyout) will not, either.
“I don’t know if you saw, but I got, like, some 95 mile per hour fastballs blown by me today,” Arenado said with a smile of a routine occurrence for hitters this early in the exhibition season. “So I’m just trying to focus on getting on time and getting ready for the season.”
At the moment at least, the season would begin with the Cardinals.
The club has openly been shopping the aging star — who turns 34 in April, has shown signs of decline and is owed $64 million over the final three years of his contract. Arenado’s OPS has plunged from .891 to .774 to .719 over the past three seasons.
If the bat has slowed, Arenado’s glove — which has won 10 Gold Gloves — is still above average.
The Yankees, having moved Jazz Chisholm Jr. to second base, essentially are holding a tryout at third between LeMahieu, Oswaldo Cabrera and Oswald Peraza.
There is an obvious hole on paper, but Arenado is not an obvious fit.
The Yankees project to be slightly over the final luxury-tax threshold, according to Hal Steinbrenner, and seemingly would want to off-load money before taking more on (as they have sought trading Marcus Stroman and his $18 million pact).
Plus, it is unlikely that the Yankees, who are waiting out the final two years and $30 million due LeMahieu, would seek another infielder on the wrong side of 30 who could become a contractual albatross.
There is also the stadium fit that is imperfect. Arenado is a righty hitter who tends to pull his batted balls — not ideal for The Bronx and its short porch in right field.
Still, rumors persist because the Yankees probably do not have a better option in-house, because the Cardinals could grow desperate to get out from Arenado’s deal and because Arenado himself is amenable: He reportedly would be willing to waive his no-trade clause for the Yankees.
Arenado acknowledged he heard some “chirping” from Yankees fans who would like him to change uniforms. He said he doesn’t follow much of the speculation and is just preparing himself for the year.
“He’s handled it incredibly well,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said.
Arenado is not complaining about his current team, but the Cardinals are rebuilding and not expected to compete for a title.
Arenado’s agent, Joel Wolfe, has said that his client wants to play for a team “that he thinks is going to win now and win consistently for the remainder of his career.”
The Yankees are just about always in contention, which means the conjecture will continue until the Yankees find their third baseman and/or Arenado finds a new home.