The Colorado Rockies and Nolan Arenado are ready to move on from an offseason riddled with tension.
Arenado and the Rockies clashed heads numerous times because of how the club handled the offseason. The 28-year-old third baseman’s gripe centers around the lack of improvements the Rockies made after winning just 71 games last season.
Arenado spent time leading up to Spring Training at the Arizona State baseball facility as opposed to the Rockies complex, which was penned as a “silent statement” from national baseball insider Joel Sherman.
Despite the turmoil between the two parties, Arenado reported to Spring Training on time. He also met with owner Dick Monfort recently and was assured that the club would be open to adding talent throughout the season, per Sports Illustrated.
Monfort has not said much about the situation with Arenado, but his comments following the 2019 season set the wheels in motion for what was a tumultuous offseason.
“We don’t have a lot of flexibility next year,” Monfort said at the start of the offseason.
The offseason was littered with rumors about Arenado’s future in Colorado, given the Rockies’ lack of spending and tension with General Manager Jeff Bridich.
Arenado’s opt-out after the 2021 season is essentially a ticking time bomb for the Rockies to prove they can field a winning ballclub. Arenado is keen on winning, and if Colorado can get back to the postseason, there is a chance he could be a Rockie for the long haul.
“I want to win,” he said. “If we win here, that’s why I signed, right? To win here. But if we’re not gonna win, I’d rather play for a winner. I don’t care where it is. I’d rather win a World Series than have my number retired.”
The Rockies are expected to win roughly 74 games in 2020, per FanGraphs, which will not get them anywhere near the postseason. Should Colorado want to retain Arenado and transform the team into a contender, the Rockies must be open to adding players throughout the season.
