It’s a day that has been rumored to occur for a few years now. On Friday night, the worst fears of an entire time zone came true.
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Colorado Rockies have agreed to trade Nolan Arenado to the St. Louis Cardinals.
There’s more to the deal, but it doesn’t matter that much. The franchise player has been sent packing by the franchise.
Colorado is also reported to be sending around $50 million to St. Louis to take their Hall of Fame bound third baseman.
While the exact players coming back in the deal have yet to be finalized, Rosenthal has suggested the package could include LHP Austin Gomber, OF Jhon Torres, 1B Luken Baker and possibly either RHP Jake Woodford or RHP Angel Rondón.
A fourth-round selection by the Cardinals in 2014, Gomber is major league ready after 104 innings split between 15 starts and 28 games out of the bullpen over two seasons. He reached as high as the 18th best prospect in the organization before his debut with St. Louis in 2018, according to Baseball America.
If the deal goes through as suggested, the returning trio of prospects have not approached the system’s top 10 and were mostly entrenched in the teens following BA’s 2020 midseason rankings: Woodford, 16th; Torres, 17th; and Rondón, 19th. Baker was 23rd on MLB Pipeline’s list last season, but did not feature in the top 30 for BA.
If that’s not inspiring, it shouldn’t be. If that doesn’t breed some semblance of hope, you’re normal.
Some Rockies’ fans may say that they’ve been waiting for this day, but it doesn’t make it any easier losing the greatest player in team history.
The deal isn’t finalized, which only makes what is about to transpire all the more difficult. It will be a story and narrative that lives a long life before those affected most by it can move on.
Both MLB and the MLB Players’ Association need to approve the deal, which is usually the case for high-profile transactions. Arenado’s opt-out following the 2021 season comes with the potential of leaving $166M remaining on the table. With many negative ramifications for his union brethren should he simply favor a World Series championship over finances, it’s not a decision Arenado can necessarily make on his own.
By waiving his no-trade clause, Bob Nightengale of USA Today is reporting that the soon-to-be 30-year-old will receive an additional $15 million for the 2027 season. As such, Arenado’s full-contract now becomes a nine-year, $275 million pact that is tied for the fourth-highest in the history of the sport. The MLBPA will not strike down this deal.
Of course, Arenado will still keep his no-trade rights and the opt-out after the 2021 season, according to Nightengale. A second opt-out following the 2022 has also been reported in the negotiations.
After eight years of Gold Glove Awards, decked out in purple and black for two postseason runs and one seismic feud with the General Manager, he’s off to the heartland of America for seven years in Cardinal red in search of multiple pennants and rings.
Nolan Arenado may deserve what’s coming next for him, but in the wake of his trade Rockies fans simply do not.
0 Comments (2 conversations)
ColoradoFanOxford
Patrick, should we ask if the $50 mill is to help finance a Broadway show? Because this looks like a classic salary dump with a bunch of players to be named later as cover. Uggg. Have serious worries this is going to join the Babe, Lou Brock and Nolan Ryan trades as all-time “what?” trades.
That being said, it was the right move. They remove over $20m over the next 6 years off their payroll that could help them retain a Story (although I worry that it might be best to trade him too, not to tank but to free up money to retain pitching) and extend Senza and Freeland.
I’ll miss Nolan, but I grew up a Cardinals fan before the Rox came about and will happily cheer him on 156 games a year. I do worry that he won’t age well, which is why I thought the contract was simply too big for the health of the organization (especially knowing how altitude wears you down). I just hope that Monfort now has Bridich on a tether, where his performance and the clubs will determine his future. He can’t dine out forever on plucking Marquez away from Rays, not after Tulo trade, Murphy, Desmond, Super Bullpen pieces, and the rest.
Sunny Rain
I can’t do it anymore. They didn’t even get Nolan Gorman back..
Done.
Patrick Lyons
AuthorOr Matthew Liberatore. Or a top 10 prospect. It’s bad. Let it out. We’re here for you.
Patrick Lyons
AuthorHa ha. That’s fantastic. We’ve talked about No No Nanette a few times in relation to the Rockies, but now it’s really true. Perhaps that money will help cover the cost of the marble countertops in McGregor Square.
And yes. It’s the right move. I think. The overarching problem is that there is an ineptitude on the part of ownership about how to create a championship winning club. I think that’s not the utmost of importance and that’s been said on the record, too. Ownership wants to win, of course. But only on their terms. Terms that don’t work in professional sports this day and age.
It’s all just painful at this point. We’ll find the silver linings. It’s our job to do that. Hang in there, Christopher.
Eidolon
The Stockholm syndrome is strong around here. What actually happened is that ownership values real estate development over baseball and they know that the sheep will continue to show up to watch a AA team in Coors, so why spend on talent or try to actually build a contender? You’re all still going to go to the bars and restaurants. You’re all still going to buy purple and black merch. You’ll all still happily stand in line for autographs from the box of nothing burgers that are coming back from STL. Your loyalty has been monetized. You’ve been so thoroughly programmed I’m surprised that more of you aren’t asking “Please sir, can I have another?” after this slap in the face. I pity you the day the lube runs out and you actually realize how thoroughly you’ve been reamed.