It hasn’t even been a full 12 months since third baseman Nolan Arenado signed a whopper of an extension with the Rockies, but the relationship between the two has already grown frosty. Arenado said late last month that he felt “disrespected” by the Rockies. Trade rumors were swirling around Arenado at the time, but that wasn’t the problem. Rather, he was reportedly irked because the Rockies made little effort to improve in the offseason after winning just 71 games in 2019.
With spring training in its early stages, there remains a “disconnect” between Arenado and the Rockies, he admitted to Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports. While Arenado isn’t thrilled with Rockies higher-ups, the relationship isn’t necessarily irreparable, nor will Arenado be a disruptive force behind the scenes if the team does retain him.
On the contrary, Arenado said to Brown: “To be honest with you, there is a disconnect right now, right? There’s a little bit of a disconnect. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be fixed. It doesn’t mean that I’m not gonna go out there and play hard for my teammates. Or be a negative presence in that locker room. That’s just not me. It’s not how I’m going to do things. I’m not going to be there trying to show them I don’t want to be there. I’m not going to be that way. That’s not fair. That’s drawing attention to me.”
That’s good news for the Rockies, who inked Arenado to a franchise-record seven-year, $234MM contract before last season. However, Arenado noted that he doesn’t regret anything he has said this offseason. The bottom line remains that the five-time All-Star wants to play for a contender.
“I’ve been to All-Star Games. I’ve done some special things, you know? I’ve won Gold Gloves,” he told Brown. “Those all mean a lot to me. At the end of the day the goal is to win. They signed me to win. And I want to be on a winner. If that’s in Colorado or somewhere else, I want to win.”
The Rockies made playoff appearances in 2017 and ’18, the first two of Arenado’s career, but they’ve fallen flat since then. The club, led by owner Dick Monfort and general manager Jeff Bridich, has signed just one major league free agent (unproven righty Jose Mujica) since last season ended. Thanks in part to that, the Rockies aren’t favored to push for a playoff spot this year.
While there’s certainly a case that Arenado’s within reason to be upset, that doesn’t mean he’ll be going anywhere before the season opens. Among his potential suitors, the Cardinals have indicated they don’t have payroll space for such a mega acquisition; the Rangers don’t expect anything to come together right now; the Nationals like their third basemen; and the Cubs probably aren’t moving Kris Bryant for Arenado.
Will he be traded?
Cardinals mid season. Write that down.
Nope….Bill DeWitt Jr. has dismissed every possibilities of the Cardinals will expand their payroll this entire season. Without mentioning any names, (such as John Mozeliak), DeWitt Jr. indicated the Cardinals currently have too much money tied up in dead contracts of over hill, non producing players. This, those contract will clear out after the 2021 season. At that point they could start adding on contracts like Arenald’s contract. Definitely not before.
If he waives his opt out clause. Not sure if that is even contractually possible.
I’d still rather see Bryant in a Rangers uni and then have Jung come up after Bryant’s stint in Texas is over. Arenado just has too big of a contract for too long of a time.
Pretty sure Jung would be part of a Bryant trade
I’d hate for that to be, because Bryant has two more years before free agency, and Jung will be up in about 2 years (knock on wood).
Remember two things:
The Cubs are not trading Bryant for a higher salary
Arenado is in complete control of where the Rockies can trade him; no trade clauses have consequences
Colorado would likely eat a solid amount of money to make it where the Cubs weren’t taking on a “higher salary”.
Arenado should be reading this. He is already so overpaid that the Rox will need to eat some of his salary to move him.
Montfort should call his bluff and allow his agent to arrange a trade.
Did anybody tell Arenado they’re winning 94 games this season?
The Rockies have a 1% chance of winning up to 94 games this season.
I dont know about that. Their owner seemed pretty confident…
So you’re saying there’s a chance?
But yeah I get the reference
If they trade his me first butt for good starting pitchers they might.
Signs $255m contract, wonders why there isn’t money to improve team…
This
Poor baby. $234,000,000 for 7 years work and he feels disrespected. What a world we live in.
If he really wants to be on a winner, he can just waive the opt-out clause and help facilitate a trade. But he won’t do that because money is more important than winning.
He’s reportedly said he’d come to the Northside of CHICAGO if only they could make it work.
Chicago isn’t important enough to be in all caps
What’s more “important” than Chicago?
Tax dollars for soldiers, food, a beautiful woman who likes to be naked with you. Those are just three things right off the top of my head.
Have you had the food or seen the naked women in CHICAGO? All caps is deserved…and I’m sure the 2.7 million people that live in the city (plus the 2.5 million in the cook county suburbs) contribute a lot of tax dollar$
I get your point but if working towards winning was part of the initial talks of his extension, then Nolan has a reason to be irritated. Players want to get paid and the money will always be there but winning is more difficult to achieve. Having said that, this is the Rockies who would have to top the Dodgers. Not to mention the improvements the Padres have made. Nolan may have felt comfortable in Colorado but the competition in that division was no secret.
No, he doesn’t. They worked towards winning(spending). They just did it poorly.
@Vin – What an idiotic comment – you have no idea about anything that the club and Arenado have talked about. For all we know is that the Rockies promised to make a push in Free agency or to look for trades to give them a chance to win . They sold the extention to him by telling him that they would put a winning team around him.
Don’t call one of the hardest workers in the MLB a baby because he’s talented enough to receive the contract that he did and wants to win.
It was reported exactly this….
Per usual, Vin just spewing s***
What does s*** mean?
Arenado knows full well the Rockies can make a push for the top pitchers in free agency all they want, they still won’t come.
I’d just cash Monfort’s checks and laugh all the way to the bank. Go 0-162 and I wouldn’t care as long as I get paid $33.5 mill. a year! Bwahahahahaha!
That’s why you’re not a professional. Anything.
He wants to win! This is America…….the organization wants fans in the seats so they can pay your astronomical salary. Its YOUR salary thats holding them back.
His salary is preventing…what? The Rockies approach $300M in revenue per year, and the owners are worth hundreds of millions. You’re a fool if you think an owner lets a $32M salary get in the way.
The team has spent poorly in an attempt to put talent around Arenado and the Rockies have an abysmal farm system. That’s why they suck.
The owners are worth a couple of hundred million? Guess what? So is Arenado.
If Arenado wants CO to spend more on other players, he can chip in too.
Who knows what was said behind closed doors? Must have been something along the lines of buyer’s remorse.
No sympathy at all. No one forced him to sign that extension.
He was lied to so he signed the extension
How do you feel about signing a contract under false pretenses?
He’d be gone otherwise as a FA. They promised him to improve the team around him after the extension. That’s why he signed. And they signed 3 meh relievers and called it a day.
He has every right to feel like they lied to him. That’s not an earnest attempt at contention and you’re lying if you say it is
He signed an extension about a year ago. There’s still plenty of time for them to try and compete… this isn’t year 6 of the deal. Also, the relievers were hardly meh. Wade Davis was a top 5 reliever in baseball when they inked him. The signings looked promising.
They didn’t improve the rotation and once those guys sucked in Col, they have shown zero interest in improving the team since
Please tell me how the 3 relievers have helped Colorado win with their 6+ ERA? Please tell me how that qualifies for “truly trying to compete”?
It was a bs attempt and they know it
Go ahead, name the 4th and 5th best rockie in 2019 without looking it up. You can’t. The owners are too busy protecting their profit margins to build a winner around Arenado
So just like Miami, they told their guy they’d try to win, signed 3 mediocre free agents, then started to eye blowing it up
And you fans think they did ok? No wonder you idiots hate all your front offices
Please stop throwing out words you don’t understand the definition of.
I have a difficult time believing the Rockies promised him they’d sign a couple of the best free agent pitchers. Within a year of his extension.
First rule: always get it in writing!
I like Arenado but nobody forced him to sign that deal last year. He could have waited and try to get hooked up with a consistent playoff team. No offense but the Rockies are not a playoff contender most years. Hard to get quality pitchers to sign there because it’s so hitter friendly. Hard to win consistently when your pitching always lags way behind your hitting. Pitching and defense still wins. Hard to live playing 12-11 games multiple times a week. He chose the money, he is stuck for now. Great player but I don’t feel bad for him.
They tied that dude up for ticket sells with a promise to stay competitive. They lied. They should’ve been all in on Cole and another pitcher.
Cole wouldn’t take $50M/yr to pitch there.
Hahaha, ok, so it’s not all about the money?
“We’re just good friends whom I happen to play baseball for occasionally. But I want to see other people.”
Giants will take him! Lol! His brother is in the lower league. They can have Longo. Js
He will be a Cardinal by the trade deadline
Hahahahaha
Not happening.
Funny how they always complain about wanting to play for a winner after they have signed the fat contract with a loser.
Exactly! All employers lie!!
Funny how millionaire owners can lie in negotiations and fans blame the players for believing their employer wasn’t bullshi**ing them
He should toughen up, trust his leadership, and play ball.
The Giants won 3 championships with subpar teams.
Arenado, toughen up, be a leader, inspire the team to play beyond its ability.
He trusted ownership
And they won 21 fewer games and did zero to attempt to improve all year.. or this offseason
You idiots would defend the damn pirates owners my god
These players who say all they care about is winning… that’s a load of crap. For many of the games greatest stars, they just can’t set their ego aside. When push comes to shove, they all are as selfish as their agents… they’ve got to get paid on a ridiculous contract that could hamstring a team for the better part of a decade, particularly in nearly any city besides NY & LA. Guys signing deals that will take them well into their late 30’s… you just know that’s pure greed, there’s no commitment to winning in that.
I forget the topic but a recent caller in to a local sports talk show put it perfectly, “Winning has never mattered less and money has never mattered more.”
I forget where I read it, but players have been signing astronomical contracts this off-season. Money has never mattered less.
Arenado can opt out of his contract after the 2021 season. If he’s not traded before then, there’s no doubt he will opt out and sign with the Dodgers. Justin Turner will be a free agent after the 2020 season ends. The real ace in Arenado’s hand is he has a full no-trade clause. The Rockies might hate the idea of trading such an amazing player like Nolan to a division rival, but they really would have no choice if they wanted to at least get something for him because he can veto any trade and just wait till after the 2021 season and go wherever he wants.
If Arenado vetos a deal to a contender that isn’t the Dodgers, then he’s just blowing smoke with his latest comments.
Hey Nolan….just a heads up here. Your comments are a negative influence. Take the high road and treat them as they treat you. Business. They pay you a helluva lot of money. Connect with THAT.
He has an opt out he should survive for 2 years on what he’s making.
2 years should be right on schedule for the Giants. Or take Longoria’s contract and we’ll take Arenado’s
If Arenado wanted to play for a perennial contender, he should’ve became a free agent! He would’ve had many options to choose from… teams who go deep in the post season every year. Now he’s crying, being petulant, and whining to the media. Suck it up! He needs to shut up and do what he’s being paid to do. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you. Makes me sick
He has ZERO reason to be “upset”…at 30+mil/yr. Spoiled, whining, and overpaid. If he wanted to play for a winner then he should have signed with a winner.
If you are playing baseball…….making tons of money……..and still complaining……..you will never find happiness in life……….maybe Arenado needs to get a min wage part time job with other minorities / whites to see how lucky he is !
I had no doubt he started “Everyone Gets Trophy” when he played in the Little Leagues as a spoiled pampered kid !
BTW….we do not need someone like him with the Cubs……..we got rid of his type when Theo took over.
Cardinals don’t have enough space, bs
1-If Arenado wanted prioritize winning over money, he could’ve played out and and told the NYMs, Philly, maybe the NYY, LAA, the LAD, etc., that he would take a little less, to win a little more.
2-If Arendao is so concerned about not winning, he can opt out. in 2021.
Obviously, money is the priority.for Arenado. If LV had a wager available, I’d make a huge wager that Arenado stays with CO and loses, rather than opt out and take less with someone else to win.
Nolan, I love you as a player, but just shut up and play.
Good news for the Rockies is that Wade Davis, Jake McGee and Bryan Shaw can all be opted out at the end of the year. Which will free up money to improve the team.
I’ll take that money he’s making and play anywhere. Yeah winning is great but 200 million to do something I love sounds great
The Rockies made him the highest paid position player in baseball ( at the time ), less than a year later he’s whining his teammates aren’t good enough to support his all-star ass. Cole or Strasburg weren’t coming sorry. Even if they offered the most. He needs to get over himself and enjoy the big slash line boost he gets from Coors, since he likes to talk about his individual accolades. He signed a deal no team will take at full price in trade. Knowing the limitations the Rockies have signing top pitchers, why sign a deal one year from free agency? Arenado made his bed.
Hopefully he ends up with LAD at some point.
I thought the relationship was FWB.