Yankees exploring trade for Cardinals 3B David Freese

It seems like only yesterday that the United Cardinals Bloggers roundtable was talking about what to do about third baseman David Freese. The answer to that question might be coming sooner than we thought.

Mark Feinsand, the Yankees beat writer for the New York Daily News, writes that the New York Yankees might be looking to make a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals for the third baseman.

"According to a source, the Yankees have discussed a potential trade for Cardinals third baseman David Freese. It’s unclear what St. Louis would want back for the 2011 World Series MVP, but given his down year in 2013 – he hit .262/.340/.381 in 138 games – and injury history, it might not be much.[…]The Yankees have flirted with trading for Freese before. They nearly had a deal in place to acquire him from the Padres for Kei Igawa after the 2007 season, but George Steinbrenner didn’t want to eat the majority of Igawa’s contract, which had four years and $16 million left on it."

The 30 year old has hit .286/.356/.427 in his career. The Cardinals acquired him by trading away center fielder Jim Edmonds.
Oct 30, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third baseman David Freese (23) reacts after striking out against the Boston Red Sox during the seventh inning of game six of the MLB baseball World Series at Fenway Park. Image Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
It makes sense for the Yankees given the Alex Rodriguez situation and his looming suspension. Even if the suspension is shortened for A-Rod, he’s still not the player that he used to be.

For the Cardinals, it makes sense to move Freese and slide Matt Carpenter into third base with Kolten Wong as the every day second baseman. Daniel Descalso is certainly capable of backing up third base or either middle infield position.

The question is who will the Yankees send over in such a trade? It’s hard to tell right now. I would think it would be someone that can come off the bench rather than a shortstop. The Cardinals might want an outfielder to take over for Jon Jay in center field but even then, it’s hard to tell what happens.