The already-thin New York Yankees third base depth chart took another hit last week when veteran D.J. LeMahieu, who played only 67 games last season, suffered a left calf injury while running the bases in his spring debut on Saturday.
The 36-year-old told reporters afterward that "it's probably going to be a little bit" until he can return, putting the Yankees' March 27 opener in jeopardy.
New York's hot corner has been a hot topic all offseason, with trade rumors surrounding St. Louis Cardinals star Nolan Arenado as the latest to grip the fanbase.
As the calendar turns to March, Bleacher Report recently predicted "where top players involved in MLB trade rumors will finish '25 season" and had Arenado eventually landing with the Yankees.
"They were reportedly one of the teams Arenado was willing to waive his no-trade clause for, and there's a decent chance they'll be desperate enough to take on the rest of his contract after a few months of trying to platoon Oswaldo Cabrera, DJ LeMahieu and Oswald Peraza at the hot corner," B/R's Kerry Miller wrote.
With the Yankees already battling a bloated payroll, Arenado's current contract carries with it over $90 million worth of financial impact, including $52 million in salary through 2027 plus nearly $40 million in deferred money through 2041.
The eight-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glover turns 34 years old on April 16 and has seen his counting stats decline in recent years, albeit still a reliable part of an established lineup. In 2024, Arenado batted .272 with a .719 OPS across 152 games, with 16 home runs, 71 RBI and 70 runs scored.
If no move is made, Oswaldo Cabrera and Oswald Peraza remain the leading candidates to split time at third base to open the 2025 season.
