Right now, the Toronto Blue Jays are fully focused on signing free agent outfielder Juan Soto. The Jays have apparently made Soto an offer of at least $600 million and their entire offseason is on hold until Soto makes his decision, which could come at next week’s winter meetings.

However, in addition to the Soto sweepstakes, ESPN MLB insider Kiley McDaniel says he would like to see the Jays become active in the third baseman market and trade for Nolan Arenado from the St. Louis Cardinals.

He wrote the following on Tuesday:

If the Cardinals paid off Arenado’s contract at three years, or $60 million (a reduction of $14 million), that would be about market rate for the veteran third baseman. Like the Bohm scenario above, this means the Jays can move Ernie Clement in a platoon/utility position. The potential return would be minimal given that Arenado’s contract would then be up to his capabilities, but the problem is that Toronto would be close to last year’s payroll and may not have much room for further improvements. St. Louis could opt to pay off the deal another $10-15 million over three years and get a real prospect in return.

Arenado is on the hook for a total of $74 million over the next three years, but again, McDaniel is asking the Cardinals to pay a portion of that in order to ease Toronto’s financial burden.

The Jays have an opening at third base, and they have also been linked to Alex Bregman, but Arenado would come at a significantly reduced cost.

Soon to be 34 years old, he only hit 16 home runs last season and 71 RBIs. Arenado hit just .272.

Even though he’s not the same player he used to be, he’s one of the most accomplished players of the last decade. An eight-time All-Star, he is also a 10-time Gold Glover and five-time Silver Slugger.

If the Cardinals are willing to invest a lot of money, then the deal could make sense for Toronto, but if the Jays have to pay him the $60 million suggested by McDaniel, that price seems too high, at least from opinion of this author. Additionally, the Jays should aim to become younger and more athletic, and Arenado accomplishes the opposite.

Toronto finished last in the American League East last season.

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