Inside The Cardinals

Cardinals Predicted To Trade Two Stars To Loaded Yankees

Will the Cardinals still sell this season?
Zach Pressnell|
Jun 24, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) celebrates with first baseman Willson Contreras (40) after the Cardinals defeated the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Jun 24, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) celebrates with first baseman Willson Contreras (40) after the Cardinals defeated the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

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St. Louis CardinalsNew York Yankees

The St. Louis Cardinals and New York Yankees have long been connected to some blockbuster trade rumors over the last few months. With many expecting the Cardinals to sell this season, though this may change, their expiring pieces fit the Yankees very well.

Ryan Helsley, Phil Maton, Erick Fedde, and others would fit the Yankees very well.

Zach Kaplan of Athlon Sports recently predicted the Cardinals would send Nolan Arenado and Helsley to the Bronx in a trade for Jasson Dominguez, Oswaldo Cabrera, Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz, and $37 million in cash considerations for Arenado's contract.

"If the Cardinals value a longer window for contention instead of hanging onto assets like Arenado and Helsley who would help them win now, then this trade would prove advantageous over time," Kaplan wrote. "On the other side, the Yankees get one of the best everyday third basemen in baseball and another high-octane arm to loosen the burden on potential question marks like Ian Hamilton and Mark Leiter Jr as they look to finally win their 28th ring."

This trade idea doesn't make much sense at all.

First of all, Arenado has a no-trade clause and hasn't shown any willingness to waive it for a deal to the Yankees. That idea would stop this trade from getting off the ground unless Arenado changes his mind.

Secondly, the Yankees have made Dominguez untouchable in trades for the last few years. It's very unlikely they would make him available in a deal for a regressing infielder and an expiring reliever. That just doesn't make sense for the Yankees.

At the end of the day, Arenado and Helsley fit the Yankees' roster. But if Arenado doesn't want to waive his no-trade clause for a deal to the Yankees, this can't happen. Still, Helsley would be a good fit in a trade that involves a lot less going back to St. Louis.

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Zach Pressnell
ZACH PRESSNELL

Zach Pressnell has experience covering all major US sports at both the professional and collegiate levels. He’s produced content for FanSided, Blog Red Machine, The Game Haus, Bethany College Athletics and the Bethany College online newspaper, He graduated from Bethany College (WV) with a degree in Communications and Media Arts, specializing in Sports Journalism. Pressnell was also a four-year member of the baseball team where he earned himself All-PAC recognition as a pitcher (and a cool Tommy John surgery scar). Now, Pressnell specializes in NFL and MLB coverage for Sports Illustrated’s “On SI” network among others. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding "St. Louis Cardinals On SI," please reach out to Scott Neville: scott@wtfsports.org

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