We’re nearing the one-year anniversary of the mammoth extension the Rockies awarded superstar third baseman Nolan Arenado last February. The club gave Arenado a franchise-record $234MM over seven years on a deal that won’t take effect until this season. There have already been trade rumors centering on Arenado, though, as well as a rift in the two sides’ relationship.
Arenado said last month “there’s a lot of disrespect from people there that I don’t want to be a part of,” and it’s not because his name has surfaced in trade talks. Rather, Arenado is reportedly annoyed that the Rockies haven’t made a clear attempt to better themselves after going from back-to-back playoff berths in 2017 and ’18 to a 71-win showing last season. The 28-year-old five-time All-Star remains a Rockie, however, and he assured last week that he won’t do anything behind the scenes to disrupt the team if he does stay in place.
Arenado’s beef is largely with general manager Jeff Bridich, who discussed the relationship he has with his franchise player Tuesday at Cactus League media day (via Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post). Bridich and Arenado haven’t sat down to clear the air yet, “But I trust that we will,” Bridich said.
The GM added that he’s hoping he and Arenado will get past their issues “through communication.” Regardless, Bridich emphasized that the goal is for the team to put together a much better year in 2020. Whether Arenado will be a part of it may be in question, but with seemingly no clubs making strong pushes to acquire him or his enormous contract (which includes an opt-out after 2021), it does seem he’ll at least start the upcoming season in Colorado.
All this time and they haven’t sat down. Although it is to be solved with “communication”.
Damn good point.
C’mon now… It’s only Day 2 of camp with both men present. Day 1 was executive team-bonding over 18 holes. Prior to that Bridich was stuck at sea in the Mediterranean. This isn’t exactly a code red PR crisis with his franchise player. /s
If you have a star player locked up to a long term deal and he makes those comments about the team and you (the GM), you drop everything and go to where he is and you try to make it right as soon as possible. You don’t want the rest of the offseason for spring training. Bridich has handled this horribly.
Wait*
This.
That little boy’s gotta think ‘You got a pet. You got a responsibility.’ If your dog is lost you don’t look for an hour then call it quits? You get your ass out there, and you find that ****ing dog!
Haha so good.
So he has made no effort is what he’s saying.
No effort to better the team or communicate with Nado.
Is it just me or do do you see a GM opening real soon
Unfortunately it’s just you. The Monforts are loyal to a fault with their personnel. Dan O’Dowd was kept as GM for probably 10 years longer than he deserved to be there and was actually offered an extension when he resigned. Bridich was his right hand man, so in effect the Rockies have had the exact same front office since 1999. Needless to say, the Rockies have not been among the best franchises in MLB since 1999. Bridich will be there until he wants to leave and he will probably be replaced by his assistant..
hiflew – Didn’t Dan Monfort state he expected a 94 win season?
I assume he was referring to his Rockies, though did wonder which nostril he picked that one from.
They have been getting past their issues with communication… with other teams!
Or This.
Seems like both of them are walking on egg shells when it comes to the elephant in the room
I doubt Arenado is. He has his ’21 opt-out. Maybe Bridich hasn’t returned his/his agent’s phone calls so he decided to air his concerns with the press. It was broken promises followed by the lack of communication which has led to this mess. Totally preventable if Bridich didn’t procrastinate. Priorities.
Home boy needs to come home to SoCal and put on Dodger Blue.
So he can go from not making the postseason to being assured of losing in it?
That’s stupid. Once in the postseason anything can happen, and there’s no denying the Dodgers are a much much better organization than the Rockies. Plus the Dodgers have a much better chance to win now then the Rox. Getting in the postseason is always the goal and hoping for the best once in.
Fool me once, twice, three times, four times…
Why? They have a stacked team and still can’t win it all.
lol he had to know this was going to happen a year ago. Take the money and B*tch at the same time.
I mean, if they tell you “No no stay bro! We’re making all kinds of calls to help support you” and then you sign a contract, then they don’t do dick… then yeah, he’s pissed and justifiably so.
Let’s stop justifying these divas’ attention craving comments. I’m not siding with either one of these silly gooses but Nolan is probably the bigger one. Take that large contract thats about to eat alot of pay roll that you agreed to and hope the supposed promises come to fruition soon, or dont sign that contract and wait for the time you can leave. Lol and this guy is throwing around the word disrespect.
Isthisserious… he’s a competitor first. He knows he could have gone to the NYY or the BRS and been competing in the playoffs the final year, but you always want to show respect for the team that trusted you and brought you to the show.
He gave them first crack and (listen, I want stupid money. Can you guys still around me and pay me?) They said yes, he said “great” and then they did nearly nothing. I’m sorry, rich or not, diva or not, I would be pissed too.
I get it and you are also forgetting that, I want to say, half of baseball contracts are signed based on your past performance knowing that you probably won’t ever perform like that again. Nado is dude who is expected to be a legend through out the next seven.
Listen, a contract is a contract. Arenado signed it. The Rockies did not sign a contract that said they would get better players.
Let’s stop justifying these divas’ attention craving comments. I’m not siding with either one of these silly gooses but Nolan is probably the bigger one. Take that large contract thats about to eat alot of pay roll that you agreed to and hope the supposed promises come to fruition soon, or dont sign that contract and wait for the time you can leave. Lol and this guy is throwing around the word disrespect.
The player signed the contract to play for x-years at x-dollors. Where does the contract say the team now has to get better players. It is not the GM’s responsibility to fix an upset player. The contract has been signed.
Everybody has a right to their feelings. That does not mean that the way the Rockies run their business has to change. I do think Arenado should be traded. He would fit in great in St. Louis. But in no way does the GM need to do anything for him.
Maybe we should all be thankful we can feed our kids today? Baseball is cool, on an entertainment level.
Yeah, it’s pretty ridiculous to think the Rockies being in the situation they’re in now was never considered. They were hardly a lock to succeed last year either. Barely anything has changed, other than the pitching being slightly less effective than originally thought. But it’s hardly surprising.
Just trade him already, you’re kidding yourself if you think the Rockies have a contending roster. Time to blow it up and rebuild! Rodgers needs to man the hot corner. Talk to the Braves and see if they’ll unload 3 upside arms in a deal for Arenado. I bet they would!
They can communicate all they want. No one wants to pitch in Colorado.
Must suck to know you’re not going to the postseason before spring training even begins
$234 million and the complain box is stuffed….
Can’t help but feel like this shows a lack of leadership with there not even being an attempt to iron things out yet.
Cole or Strasburg were not coming.
Situations like this floor me. Players want to be the one to “set the new market standards” with bank-breaking contracts, but then expect ownership and the front office to go spend all this money to surround him. I know owners all have deep pockets, but Arenado should understand by now the spending nature of his organization.
Jeff Bridich has to be the worst GM in baseball, and I say that as a Phillies fan!
He has no clue how to structure or approach deals, build a roster, or do any type of PR whatsoever.
That said, both parties are at fault. Bridich for structuring the deal and Arenado agreeing to it. Arenado knew the spending habits of the Rockies and Monforts cheap pockets, so expecting the Rockies to spend after blowing the farm on him was a pipe dream.
It’s no wonder every game at Coors Field is an away game for the Purple & Black.
The Rockies have actually set team records for payroll and have been around 12th in MLB the last couple of seasons.
Bridich has just been pretty bad at HOW he has spent it.
Monfort is effectively in the position of having to choose between Arenado and Bridich at this point.
Given their respective performances during their tenures with the team, this should be exceedingly easy.
He will be a Cardinal by the trade deadline.
I’ve heard that before and didn’t buy it then. The Rockies want a haul for a guy that’s paid his worth and has an opt out after 2021. Too risky
Bridich is terrible at his job. Plus I can’t think of more empty statements then what he said about Arenado, the other players, and the Rockies in general. What a bunch of talk while saying literally nothing. I can’t stand it when guys like Bridich just mumble nonsense and don’t address the problem at hand.
$234 million and your disrespected because they can’t afford to pay for pitchers to come to Colorado? Shocker! I feel bad for ya bro, hang your head and try to figure out how to cash those checks!
Bridich has screwed this up so bad. I can’t believe I’m missing the days of o’dowd… This guy’s a joke.