The Rockies are reportedly willing to listen to offers for their franchise player, third baseman Nolan Arenado. General manager Jeff Bridich all but confirmed that’s the case, Nick Groke of The Athletic relays (subscription link).
“Look, this is the time of year where those conversations happen,” Bridich said. “This is the time of year where we at least listen to teams and go, ‘OK, well, should we try to investigate and put something together.’ We have people to do those sorts of things. I can’t sit here and say, ‘No, never, ever.’ Some of this stuff started back at the trade deadline and it’s kind of ongoing.”
Bridich is still of the opinion the Rockies, as presently constructed, can push for a championship in 2020, Groke notes. Arenado, of course, plays an irreplaceable role in that belief. However, with so few above-average third basemen currently available (Josh Donaldson’s a free agent and Kris Bryant may end up on the move via trade), teams could come calling with appealing offers if the Rockies place Arenado on the block. Arenado has full no-trade rights as part of the seven-year, $234MM extension Colorado signed him to last offseason, though he has expressed frustration regarding the Rockies’ nightmarish 2019. So, if a contender tries to acquire him, perhaps the 28-year-old will be open to leaving the Rockies. Regardless of whether a trade comes together, Arenado has the ability to opt out of his contract after 2021.
Here are more rumblings from around the game…
- A report earlier this week suggested the Cardinals haven’t shown much recent interest in Dallas Keuchel, but Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes that the club’s “intrigued” by the free-agent left-hander. The Cardinals were also among the teams in on Keuchel last season before he signed a one-year, $13MM contract with the Braves in June, thereby ending a shockingly long stay on the market. The soon-to-be 32-year-old didn’t have a great few months in Atlanta, but he should nonetheless do better in free agency this time. MLBTR predicts he’ll sign a three-year, $39MM pact.
- At this week’s Winter Meetings, Miami and Minnesota discussed a trade that would see the Marlins send right-hander Elieser Hernandez to the Twins for outfielder Jake Cave, according to Craig Mish of FNTSY Sports Radio. While there’s no indication a deal is on the way, the Twins are at least “open” to trading Cave and would like a pitcher in return, Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News tweets. Age (24 versus 27) is on Hernandez’s side, but Cave was the better producer in 2019. Cave slashed .258/.351/.455 in 228 plate appearances. Meanwhile, Hernandez put up a 5.03 ERA/5.58 FIP despite logging 9.29 K/9 against 2.84 BB/9 across 82 1/3 innings. Neither player is on track to reach arbitration until after 2021.
- Although the possibility of the Mets acquiring Astros star shortstop Carlos Correa has been branded as more fantasy than reality, the teams did have “active” talks from November up to this week, Andy Martino of SNY reports. However, those discussions have “fizzled,” per Martino. For what it’s worth, Astros GM Jeff Luhnow has told Correa not to worry about a trade. Barring something unforeseen, it appears Amed Rosario will continue as New York’s starting shortstop in 2020.
I can not believe the Astros did not accept Nimmo, Smith & Lowrie for Correa.
Luhnow balked when the Mets asked for the trash can.
Hahaha! +1
These trash can jokes never get old!
lmao
RCT – that’s a good one
Everyone keeps saying the Astros have some of the best tech in the business. Why shouldn’t the Mets want some of that
Are you being facetious?
I can’t believe someone had to ask if this was sarcasm. Smh.
Given the overwhelming stupidity often posted it’s hard to tell.
Given the pleasant nature of the exchange, I assumed it was irony…
I don’t think you guys know what any of those words mean
Andy Martino just lying to save face over a fake report. I never believe anything he says anymore. Mets are just going to get a bullpen piece and back up catcher and theyll call it an off season. This Cespedes thing is good for the money they MAY spend but maybe jeffy and poppa wilpz will pocket that cash. Either way, mets are an 88 win team at best imo. Hopefully I’m proven wrong
Took a while, but Jake Cave has really evolved from a borderline Rule 5 guy to a player capable of an .800 OPS on a regular basis, at least in 2019.
I always wanted the Yankees to give him a longer look, but I guess I can’t complain. I liked him as a prospect and I’m glad he’s making it work.
walls? Count of 5 i’s. Juss sayn.
.800 ops on a regular basis…at least in 2019. Smile.
same here
Patino,Baez,Morejon and another prospect for Bryant. Move him to the outfield. Trade Campusano, Weathers, and another prospect for Marte.
Padres lineup:
Pham
Tatis
Bryant
Machado
Marte
Hosmer
Mejia
Profar
Just a pipe dream but strangely, possibly realistic. Yes it would gut the farm but the Pads would be instant contenders.
Sign Keuchel or Bumgarner and the rotation:
Paddack
Richard
Keuchel/Bumgarner
Lamet
Davies
Luchesi in the pen. Gore in the wings.
One can dream.
I thought for sure the Padres would cash in some of that prospect capital for major league talent that would move the needle but instead theyvevmade two nonsensical trades that made them worse, in my opinion . Still early tho
I wouldn’t blink on luchesi. Will turn on to be a solid #2
That was my thought, too. Probably not a #2, but he’s already a 3.
I think the Cubs would consider that though they could be punting 2020. Patino and Morejon could replace Lester and Quintana in 2021. The Cubs would get out of the luxury tax. They could sign Frazier for a stopgap at 3B and Akiyama to platoon with Almora in CF. AJ looks like he’s in a now or never situation. I could see it happening.
I like most of that. Could be a thing for sure. Would have the one of the best starting OF and probably the best non-starting OF in the game. Collectively that is.
Unless Tatis is in the deal, Bryant isn’t going to SD. Stop reading the ignorant mainstream media.
Lol are you serious? Tatis, a 5-tool player, has the ceiling to be a top 3 player in all MLB. Suggesting SD would need to give him up to acquire Bryant is elementary
Cubs would have to add a bunch to KB to get Tatis. KB may be a one year rental. The offer above is actually very Cubs-friendly.
SD is NOT trading Tatis Jr for two years of Bryant. Too much upside for Tatis that he’s already starting to show. As much as I’d love to see this happen for the Cubs, SD would NEVER do it.
Especially not straight up.
The bottom two sound like a assassination crew in a mob movie.
That sounds pretty mediocre. Maybe compete as a wild card, but that would be it.
Padres would be close to a 200M payroll in that scenario and punt a lot of future savings. If they wanted a 200M payroll they’d just sign a few free agents vs selling farm and paying it.
The Padres are not getting Marte without giving up Mejia. The Pirates biggest need is a controlled catcher.
Switch Campusano for Mejia. Each one has considerable upside.
They don’t have a SS either.
Right. Their SS hit over .300 last year. They need OF, C and P prospects more than anything else
Favorite lie of Cardinals front office and media year after year. “The Cardinals were one of the teams in on….” No they aren’t or weren’t. It’s just Mo propoganda that the sheeple suck up and believe. Then, when the dust settles, Mo pounces on a mid to lower tier FA and overpays the hell out of him.
You just described every tesm in the midwest.
Agreed! I can hear Mo now, we’ll uh yeah uh the market never developed in our favor.
Give the Cardinals credit. They have offered big dollars to many big name FA, the players just haven’t accepted in most cases. heyward, Believe David price? Texeira. Maybe 1 of the names just said is wrong, but get the idea. no idea why name players seem to not go there, but then some have chosen to sign, like Holliday.
And regardless of their lack of signing big names, the cardinals are always in the thick of things come September/October
Most people like to live in the coastal states. That’s why that’s where most of the population centers are. Stars are the same way. All things being equal, they’ll probably go with the coastal state.
The Cardinals bid on High Dollar Free Agents when they know they’ll come in second!!! Check the records!!!!
Very true!
same with the Mets smoke screens to keep fans interested — the Yankees dont say much they just go out and do it
Mo will do his “due diligence” but “at the end of the day we just couldn’t find a fit that doesn’t compromise the future we are trying to build.”
Same ole BS, different year.
The ongoing Bridich delusion that he has more than a .500 baseball team is always enjoyable.
All I want for Xmas is JoDo, MadBum and Hader (unhater). Thanks Twins Mgmt. For spending this year… finally!
What exactly is a “JoDo?”
please explain .. ??
I’m sure he means Josh Donaldson
I think he meant dojo but he’s dyslexic
They like to know they have money to spend rather than actually spending it.
CFAP why don’t you come up with some new lines! Sheeple really! Your the one that’s always talking about these sheeple so you must have an intimate relationship with them! By the way I’m betting you never played an organized sport in your life!
Msvhs79, this is CFAP’s schtick: Sheeples, I wish I could be a Luhnow groupie, while I bash any move the Cardinals front office makes while I continue my secret crush on Harrison Bader (I pretend I don’t have secret love for him by calling him Harrison Bourjos).
When you look at people who post like a d-bag, they are really just trying to get a rise outta people. CFAP, or whatever name he wants to camouflage with from time to time, plays it safe and reacts other than giving a suggestion or a contribution because if he did he would be wiping as much egg off his face as he does when he dribbles his same banter every time.
A crush on Harrison Bourjos? That’s hilarious. Where do you come up with this crap?
When your idol Luhnow got busted for cheating during the World Series did your heart get broken? Or was it Luhnow’s decision to trade for players that abuse women that make you so keen to him? Idk… I’ll take the bow tie and pretty decent track record over that piece of scum any day of the week.
As for the Harrison Bourjos crap you spit. I don’t see it. Other than speed I don’t see a comparison. It’s unfortunate for you that you don’t go off of actual stats to compare players, just salty venom.
You don’t see the comparison? Are you blind? Neither can hit a slider. Both play great defense. Both have elite speed. What part are you missing? I’ll cut it down the middle. I’ll just call him Peter Bader.
Blindness? 10 years of Bourjos yields a war of 9.1 vs 2 years (and a few months) with Bader at 5.9. Bourjos has 134 walks in his decade of baseball. Bader has 82. Defensive runs saved per year Bourjos = 10. Bader = 20. Obp, Ops, ops + etc… most of what Bader’s stats and performance say makes your ignorance shine. Look it up. No comparison. The slider is the only thing I can’t debate here, the rest is just crazy talk.
Bourjos did all his damage his first 2-3 years in the league. He never made the adjustments offensively. His career fizzled. Bourjos was a GG finalist in year 2. He was so good defensively that Trout played LF. Bader was so bad last year that he was relegated to AAA. Just watch as Bader’s career goes the same way. Bourjos was a 5 WAR player in 2011. He had 3 injuries in 2 years. Trust me, it’s painfully obvious where Bader’s career is heading.
GuinnessPelican, just curious,because your mind works in mysterious ways. You care to explain how you came up with the conclusion that you THINK I’m a Luhnow or Astros fan? Because I never stated that. By the way, what team did Luhnow work for from 2003-2011?
Your gushing over Luhnow from comments you have made lead me to believe this. While you are Mo bashing, which is frequent, you have referred to the Cardinals owners in them letting the wrong person go. Luhnow was obviously in the Cardinals organization, had trouble keeping passwords safe, and had a hand in drafting favorites of yours like Jon Jay. He also was adamant that a member of the Cardinals did the unthinkable by “hacking” into his database over prospects while he was setting up his centerfield spy cameras in Houston and excusing the behavior of a woman beater.
With your minimal contributions and your excessive reactions you don’t really talk about your favorite team, that is, if you even have one? I actually think there is the possibility that you might even have good insight. It just seems easier for you to want to pick apart and bash Mozeliak and the Cardinals, or anyone that doesn’t share the dark side of the force with you.
You would lose that bet big time.
News flash, Rockies: Your franchise is not ready to compete in 2020. Trading your best player alienates your fan base especially when there doesn’t seem to be any plan in place. The trade market lanscape from the ’19 season trade deadline is very different than it is today.
The Rockies made the playoffs two years in a row. Last year was an unmitigated disaster; but, by the same token, it was completely unexpected. They were projected to be much better and a contender for a wild card spot again.
I’d wait another year or two to see if last year was the aberration or the two playoff years were flukes.
Good post stevenbaker.
There is only one good time to deal Nolan Arenado; that is now. The Rockies have both the motivation and a star waiting in place…Colton Welker. Unless Colorado is content on having a lock on fifth place, it has to get on the ball and start making decent trades..
I couldn’t even venture a guess at what a return would look like for Arenado??? You would think that the Rockies would just want to focus on one area and one area only–the same are that has plagued them since the beginning–a core of starting pitching. Yea, I know, easier said than done, as only a handful of teams have been able to develop a full, home-grown stud rotation, but they gotta try. AA and AAA pitchers. Get 3 top ones for Arenado and 2 top guys for Story, and hope that three of them make it.
Colton Welker hit below a 250 last year in the minor leagues and has never hit more then 13 hrs in a single season. Thats the guy ready to replace Nolan Arenado. Thanks JoeFriday I needed a good laugh. Btw loved you in Dragnet
Ha! You think colton welker is a better player than nolan arenado?! Give me a break. The star on your team is not welker in the minors who regressed last season, it’s ARENADO and he’s worth every penny!
Maybe the Rockies should have listened to offers before they signed him
What would Arrenando to the Mets look like? Would Syndergaard or McNeil have to be included? Maybe force Rockies to take back Familia? Prospect could be Andres Giminez an David Peterson
You think the Rockies would take back Fanilia in a trade for Arenado. Thats ridiculous. Why don’t you throw in Cano too while you’re at If the Rockies are trading Arenado what good would 2 years of Thor do them. Arenado would bring back a haul of blue chippers and they would not be taking back bad salaries
Urshela for Arenado? 😉
Here come the deluded yankee fan posts!
Because they’re the only fans to post deluded proposals? Yeah, right. 99% of the proposals made on this site are delusional. Get your head out of your arse.
I’m a Mets fan and I agree with Mo. my whole reason for reading the comments here is to remind me that it’s not just mets fans that are stupid.
Cardinals need to snag Arenado for another Nolan (Gorman) plus some combo of Hudson, Carp, a selection of the glut of outfielders, and whatever else it freaking takes to get him. Of course that takes increasing payroll, which for whatever reason they claim to not want to do, so it won’t happen. But my God it makes too much sense. Look at that infield D alone (not to mention the offense)
Goldy 1B
Wong 2B
Arenado 3B
DeJong SS
Sign one of the FA pitchers to fill in for Hudson. There’s no reason STL can’t carry a $175-$200 mil payroll. None.
I love me some Arenado, but his numbers away from Coors are good, not earth shattering. Hes making a boatload of money too. If somehow we could get him for gorman and say alex Reyes and tyler oneill and take on all his payroll I think that would rock. But adding Hudson and the cards being stuck with fowler and carp the next 2 years would probably hurt the team too. I agree with you they could bump payroll up to 200m but they wont, they like to skirt the line between keeping us coming to games while also making huge profits. If they dont change soon though they may alienate the fans cause I know prices for tickets and beers just keep getting higher and higher.
Rockies hitters are disadvantaged away from Coors just as much (if not more) than they are advantaged in Coors. That’s because of the extreme adjustment they have to make to pitch movement when they go on the road. Nearly every ex-Rockie that has left the team has hit as well overall for their new team, most a little better even.
I agree. I said the Mets should have called and offered Alonso and Mets fans killed me. But Nolan at third with Dom Smith at first makes the defense much better, for a team based around pitching that’s a big deal.
What most people think Coors field gives you is power yet Arenado hit one less homerun on the road last year 21 to 20 which means he’s a 40 hr player anywhere. Thats a lot better then good its top tier hr hitter. Add that to a great defensive 3b who hit 276 on the road last year and I’m hard pressed to see how you come up with good not great. How many players in major league baseball give you 41 hrs a 276 ba and gold glove defense at third
I love how fans think teams can just unload all their bad contracts in a deal for a superstar! You’re stuck with Carpenter. Package your 3 best prospects (which aren’t much because you gutted your farm trading last offseason) and maybe the rockies call you back. Maybe.
Yeah, if they trade Arenado, that means they’re going to rebuild. They’re not going to want any old declining players in return, only top prospects.
Arenado or Story and a dependable reliever(McGee) for Price and a full year of Betts. Move Devers to 1 B.
Dont see that trade happening between those 2 teams — doesnt make sense for the Rockies
I thought BOS is trying to shed dollars. Arenado is owed more, Story still will get paid from arbitration. You’re overvaluing Price and Betts. Maybe a 3-team using the prospects from the Betts trade to offset dollars for Arenado. But isn’t Arenado due more than 2x what Price is? And Arenado still produces.
Hahahaha dream on. I hope you were kidding. If the rox deal arenado they would want blue-chippers back to do a quick rebuild to contend shortly thereafter.
Why would the Rockies give up either of those players to get a bad salary like Prices and 1 year of Betts.You are basically saying it would help the Red Sox if we could dump Price so we’ll give you one year of Betts for 7 years of Arenado and we’ll throw in 3 years of a bad salary
Hernandez is an interesting trade candidate, but I’d rather see a Bumgarner signing or a trade for Ray.
If we’re set on trading Cave to the Marlins it should be for Ryne Stanek instead.
No way you’re getting Stanek. Miami will try him as closer or in a setup role.
Why trade a franchise player after you gave him that extension. Should’ve just let him walk if you are going to trade him.
Letting him walk means getting nothing but a comp pick for him. Trading him means restocking the farm and mailing in the next two years with eyes on contending in 2022.
Why would you let arguably the best defensive third baseman in baseball walk out the door for a lottery ticket draft pick when you can get guys who are almost guaranteed everyday MLB players, at least two of which will have the potential to be studs?
Because it makes him more appealing in a trade because he is a superstar in a locked contract! They basically did what any team that trades for him would want to do.
The Rockies made the playoffs two years in a row. Last year was an unmitigated disaster; but, by the same token, it was completely unexpected. They were projected to be much better and a contender for a wild card spot again.
I’d wait another year or two to see if last year was the aberration or the two playoff years were flukes.
Arenado is a top notch hitter with power and an excellent defender. He also has a ton of competitive desire. Colton Welker and Brendan Rodgers are excellent prospects who can play third, but both need another year to develop and Rodgers was injured last season. The Rockies need pitching and catching help. Arenado could be the trade bait to strengthen those weak areas.
Kind of wondering if Keuchel could be on the Reds radar if they don’t land MadBum
He was best ground ball pitcher in the league in 2018 and 4th best the year prior
If they can get him at 3yrs/36-39mil I think it would be worth a shot
I know the Reds were pushing for him last year around the time they got Sonny, not sure if Dick Williams is still interested
walls? Count 5 i’s. 2 sentences. Juss sayn. . .
The Rockies never trade their best hitters for much needed pitching. Can’t sign the best pitchers and will not trade for them either.
Cave for Hernandez.. I would be very happy with that. Cave is the odd man out with the starting outfield we have now and the prospects we have coming up. Hernandez is a young MLB ready arm that I would be totally happy having in Minny
Mets should of asked for one of Houston’s Hackers or someone who can steal signs… instead of the trash can