The New York Yankees are off to a good start in the 2025 season. They hold a 19-13 record and sit in first place in the American League East. However, even though the team is winning games, there are still problems they need to fix. One of the biggest issues is the pitching rotation, which has been hit hard by injuries. Another concern is the lack of depth at third base and the need for more right-handed hitting.
At first, many people believed the Yankees were going to make a move for St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado, on the basis that he’s a strong defender, has been an All-Star eight times, and could add power from the right side. But now, according to a trusted insider, the rumor is false. The Yankees have never tried to trade for him.
Instead, the Yankees are focusing their attention on a more urgent need—starting pitching. Specifically, they have reached out to the Miami Marlins to ask about pitcher Sandy Alcantara. He has had a rough start to the season, but the Yankees believe he might still be worth the risk.
- The Yankees are actively pursuing pitching help, with trade interest in Sandy Alcantara despite his current struggles.
- Rumors linking New York to the Cardinals’ third baseman Nolan Arenado are false, as the team has shown no interest.
- Injuries and underperformance in the rotation have driven the Yankees’ trade priorities ahead of the 2025 deadline.
Arenado Trade Rumors Were Never True
For several months, fans and reporters linked Nolan Arenado to the Yankees. Reports during the offseason said the Cardinals might be open to trading him. Because of that, many people expected the Yankees to go after him. The Yankees’ third base situation hasn’t been solid, with Oswaldo Cabrera, Pablo Reyes, and Oswald Peraza all sharing time at the position.
However, Andy Martino, a reporter from SNY who covers the Yankees closely, made it clear that the team was never interested in Arenado. He answered a fan’s question and wrote, “As for Arenado, the next time that the Yankees are interested will be the first time.”
Martino also explained that the Yankees’ actual trade goal since spring training has been to add a right-handed hitter, not necessarily a third baseman. The idea was to give manager Aaron Boone better matchups against left-handed pitchers late in games.
To help with that need, the Yankees recently claimed Bryan De La Cruz off waivers from the Atlanta Braves. They sent him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, but added him to the 40-man roster after Giancarlo Stanton was moved to the 60-day injured list. De La Cruz could become a useful option later in the season.
As for Arenado’s current performance, it’s been average. He has a .245 batting average, a .336 on-base percentage, and a .409 slugging percentage. He has hit 3 home runs and driven in 13 runs this season. He also has a full no-trade clause, and during the offseason, he gave the Cardinals a list of teams he would agree to be traded to. The list included the Dodgers, Angels, Padres, Mets, Red Sox, and Phillies. The Yankees were not on it.
So, even though the idea of Arenado in New York sounded interesting, it was never a real possibility.
Yankees Reach Out About Sandy Alcantara
Now, turning to the real news, the Yankees are working on a possible trade for a starting pitcher. The team has reached out to the Miami Marlins to ask about Sandy Alcantara. This report comes from Pinstripes Nation, and they say a senior advisor and a vice president from the Yankees front office are handling talks with the Marlins.
This move makes sense, especially when you look at the state of the Yankees’ rotation. Gerrit Cole is still injured. Clarke Schmidt was supposed to start against the Rays recently, but had to be scratched after a scan showed a problem. Luis Gil also started the year on the injured list. Right now, Max Fried has been the best pitcher in the rotation. He has a 1.01 ERA and has looked like an ace. Carlos Rodon has been solid, but the rest of the group is either hurt or underperforming.
This brings us to Alcantara. The 29-year-old won the National League Cy Young Award in 2022. That year, he had a 2.28 ERA and pitched over 220 innings. He showed great command, power, and durability. But since then, things have changed. He missed all of 2024 due to Tommy John surgery. Now, in 2025, he has made six starts, and the numbers are not good. He has a 2-3 record and an 8.31 ERA. In 26 innings, he has walked 17 batters and struck out only 19. In his last outing, he gave up 7 runs in just 2.2 innings.
Despite this, his contract is still attractive. He is signed through 2026, with a team option for 2027 at $21 million. If he can return to form, that deal becomes very team-friendly.
Trade Could Be Costly for Yankees
The big question is how much it would cost to trade for Alcantara. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Marlins are unlikely to trade him until later in July, and only if he starts pitching better. If that happens, the asking price will be high.
Nightengale compared it to the deal the Yankees made in 2023 for Juan Soto. In that trade, New York sent Michael King, Jhony Brito, Randy Vasquez, top-100 prospect Drew Thorpe, and veteran catcher Kyle Higashioka to the Padres. In return, they got Soto and Trent Grisham.
A deal for Alcantara might require just as much—or more. The Yankees’ farm system is not very strong right now. Outside of players like Spencer Jones, Chase Hampton, George Lombard Jr., and Roderick Arias, they don’t have many top-tier prospects. To beat out teams like the Cubs, Mets, or Padres, who all have deeper farm systems, the Yankees might have to include one or more of their best young players. Some names being mentioned are Jones, Will Warren, and even Jasson Domínguez.
According to Tim Kelly from Bleacher Report, the Yankees are one of the top teams interested in Alcantara. The Cubs are also showing strong interest and may be even more aggressive. They are having a strong season in the NL Central and badly need a top starting pitcher. Because of their deeper farm system, they may have an advantage.
Yankees Need to Decide Soon
The Yankees are trying to win now. They are not rebuilding. They already have big names like Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, Paul Goldschmidt, and rising young players like Ben Rice and Jasson Domínguez. On the pitching side, Fried and Rodon have been reliable, but the rest of the rotation has too many questions.
The team’s overall ERA ranks 11th in Major League Baseball. That’s good, but it may not be good enough to survive a deep playoff run, especially when going up against teams like the Dodgers or Braves. That’s why the front office is looking at trade options now instead of waiting too long.
If Alcantara starts to show improvement in June or early July, his value will go up fast. He could become the best available starting pitcher before the trade deadline. But the Yankees will need to act quickly and be willing to give up key prospects if they want to land him.
As Bob Nightengale said, “Someone is gonna have to give up a ton.” The Yankees may be ready to do that, but only if they believe Alcantara can return to being one of the best pitchers in baseball.
