The Rockies Reportedly Want The Mets To Engage In Trade Talks For Nolan Arenado
You knew it was only a matter of time before teams started asking for Uncle Stevie bailouts and it appears the Rockies are first in line, which isn't much of a surprise considering Nolan Arenado reportedly wasn't happy with the Rox before the season and his contract went from a problem to a FUCKING PROBLEM now that coronavirus allegedly ran train on baseball owners' wallets.
Now let me start off by saying I love Nolan Arenado and the Mets even being rumored to have a chance to land a stud like him because of their financial flexibility still makes my battered brain hurt as someone that had to live with the Wilpons as owners for years. But there is clearly a reason the Rockies are reportedly making their desire to do a deal with a shrewd businessman like Steve Cohen known even though it kinda fucks any leverage they could have. And that reason is Arenado is owed $199 million over 6 years along with a no trade clause that has completely fucks up that contract since not many teams want to take a deal that big that they could potentially be stuck with once Arenado is past his prime fresh off a season-ending shoulder injury.
I suppose you can even go with the Home/Road splits that come with pretty much every player that plays their home games in Colorado.
Putting up 120 less runs, 37 less dingers, 162 less RBI, 50 more strikeouts, a 60 point dip in batting average and an OPS that drops by almost .200 on the road in only 50 less plate appearance between the home and road is a hell of a drop off, even for the Coors bump. Add in that Arenado will be on the wrong side of 30 by April and that younger stars like Francisco Lindor and others due for a monster contract extension could potentially be traded to one of the few teams whose owners value winning over saving.
It all depends on who else is on the market and what the Rockies would want in return, which I imagine wouldn't be that much considering the burden this contract will be for them. Robinson Cano's steroid-ridden corpse along with Brandon Nimmo were rumored, which would be a match made in heaven considering Nimmo would be closer to God by playing in Colorado. However, a New York team placing a stud like this to play the hot corner after years of watching the Amazins wheel out bums like Eric Campbell and late career Jose Reyes, meh options like Todd Frazier and Wilmer Flores (sorry Wilmer I love you), or guys who simply can't field the position like JD Double Davis Davis Davis would be incredible, even if the numbers on Arenado's contract would give Jeff Wilpon a heart attack and 3rd base for the Mets may legitimately be a cursed position.
Advertisement
I'm sure we'll dive into this rumor on tomorrow's We Gotta Believe where we recap the signing of James McCann, the hiring of Jared Porter, and any other presents Uncle Stevie may leave for us over the next 24 hours.