Nolan Arenado insists his long spring trip wasnt for Yankees showcase

Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees from spring training TAMPA — Time will tell whether Nolan Arenado appears on the Yankees’ radar.In a curious development Wednesday, he appeared on their spring home field.Arenado, the very much available Cardinals third baseman, became a rare longtime, proven veteran to embark on a lengthy Grapefruit League road trip.The 12-year major leaguer drove the three-plus hours across Florida to play at Steinbrenner Field for what was a 7-0 Yankees win.The eight-time All-Star is on the trade block, but no, he said, he was not trying to show himself off for the Yankees.“I didn’t come here for that,” Arenado said.

“Day 3 of spring training, that wouldn’t be a good day to showcase myself.”He said he wanted to see longtime teammate Paul Goldschmidt and longtime friend DJ LeMahieu, along with a personal trainer who works in the area.He also had not played Tuesday and did not want to sit for two consecutive days.Regardless of the precise circumstances, the Yankees saw firsthand seven innings of a high-profile potential trade target.

Of course, even four home runs would not have swayed the Yankees into immediate action, and the reality (0-for-3 with two strikeouts and a flyout) will not, either.“I don’t know if you saw, but I got, like, some 95 mile per hour fastballs blown by me today,” Arenado said with a smile of a routine occurrence for hitters this early in the exhibition season.“So I’m just trying to focus on getting on time and getting ready for the season.”At the moment at least, the season would begin with the Cardinals.

The club has openly been shopping the aging star — who turns 34 in April, has shown signs of decline and is owed $64 million over the final three years of his contract.Arenado’s OPS has plunged from .891 to .774 to .719 over the past three seasons.

If the bat has slowed, Arenado�...