With first baseman Christian Walker off the free-agent market after agreeing to sign with the Astros, the Yankees¡¯ interest in adding veteran first baseman Paul Goldschmidt is rapidly increasing, sources told MLB.com on Friday.

If the Yankees do indeed sign Goldschmidt, it might prove to be doubly beneficial for New York.

Sources added that the veteran first baseman¡¯s potential presence in New York could have a strong influence on former teammate Nolan Arenado waiving his no-trade clause and agreeing to play for the Yankees if New York pursues a trade with St. Louis for the 10-time Gold Glove winner. The Yankees approached the Cardinals earlier this offseason about a deal for Arenado, sources said, but they were rebuffed because St. Louis had no interest in taking on the contract of veteran right-handed pitcher Marcus Stroman.

Adding both Goldschmidt and Arenado -- teammates with the Cardinals over the past four seasons -- would allow the Yankees to shift Jazz Chisholm Jr. from third base to second base, with Anthony Volpe at short, solidifying the infield for the 2024 American League champions. The Yankees have responded to losing superstar slugger Juan Soto to the rival Mets by signing left-hander Max Fried to an eight-year, $218 million free-agent deal and trading for closer Devin Williams and first baseman/outfielder Cody Bellinger. Goldschmidt and Arenado could provide more veteran protection in the lineup for reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge.

A sticking point in any potential deal with the Yankees is that the 37-year-old Goldschmidt is seeking a multi-year deal, per sources. That might cause some pause, considering that Goldschmidt registered career lows in several major offensive categories each of the past two seasons after winning the National League Most Valuable Player Award in 2022.

The D-backs are another possible destination for Goldschmidt now that Walker has agreed to a deal with the Astros for a reported $60 million over three years, a source said. Goldschmidt starred with Arizona from 2011-18 before being traded to the Cardinals.

Arenado, 33, has three years and $74 million remaining on a deal he originally signed with the Rockies and carried over to the Cardinals while playing for St. Louis the past four seasons. Colorado is on the hook for $10 million and another $12 million is deferred, lowering the potential commitment for a new team to roughly $60 million over three years. Arenado has a full no-trade clause in his contract and exercised that option earlier this week to squash a proposed deal between St. Louis and Houston, one that would have seen the Cardinals pay down an additional $15-20 million of the third baseman¡¯s salary, sources said.

Arenado would have to approve any trade between St. Louis and New York, and he would be far more likely to do so with Goldschmidt signed to play for the Yankees, a source said. Whether the Yankees view Goldschmidt as more than an answer at first base -- namely, an additional piece to help acquire Arenado -- is unclear.

Arenado, who is winless in seven playoff games in a Rockies and Cardinals career that could end up with election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, has made it known that he will only consider waiving his no-trade clause for organizations that are World Series contenders. The Southern California native has the Dodgers at the top of his wish list, but Los Angeles appears intent on sticking with incumbent third baseman Max Muncy for the 2025 season. Joining the Yankees -- who lost to the Dodgers in five games in the World Series in October -- could fill Arenado¡¯s wish to play for a championship-contending team.

The Yankees expressed an interest in trading for Arenado earlier in the offseason, a source said, proposing a swap of Stroman and Arenado. St. Louis declined the offer without even presenting it to Arenado for approval, according to the source. The 33-year-old Stroman was 10-9 with a 4.31 ERA in 30 games (29 starts) in his first season with the Yankees, and he wasn¡¯t used throughout the playoffs. He is due $18.3 million in 2025, and another $18.3 million would be vested for 2026 if he pitches at least 140 innings in the season ahead.

The Cardinals are planning a ¡°reset¡± for 2025 in hopes of clearing payroll and providing more playing time to their young core of players. In addition to president of baseball operations John Mozeliak saying that it is his intention to trade Arenado, St. Louis has received interest from the Blue Jays and D-backs in trading for All-Star closer Ryan Helsley, a source said. Meanwhile, veteran starting pitchers Erick Fedde and Steven Matz have drawn trade interest from the Tigers and Guardians, the source added.