Arbitration can get ugly. Luckily, the Colorado Rockies were able to avoid the process with their star third baseman.
On Friday, the Rockies agreed to a two-year contract with Nolan Arenado worth $29.5 million. The pact will see the 25-year-old make $11.75 million in 2017 and $17.75 million in 2018. He will will be eligible for arbitration one final time, following the 2018 season.
Arenado has won a Gold Glove Award in each of his first four seasons in the majors. In 2016, he hit 41 home runs, which tied the National League lead in the category; a feat he as accomplished in two straight seasons. Playing in 160 games last season, he set career highs with 133 RBI and a batting average of .294.
With the deal, Arenado and the Rockies barely beat out the deadline for both sides to submit their figures for arbitration. They were still scheduled to trade numbers with outfielder CHarlie Blackmon, starting pitcher Tyler Chatwood and second baseman D.J. LeMahieu.
The Rockies also agreed to a minor-league deal with veteran outfielder Chris Denorfia on Friday. The 36-year-old has played for the San Diego Padres, Cincinnati Reds, Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs and Seattle Mariners in his 10-year career, and owns a .272 career batting average. He provides a right-handed option in an outfield full of lefties.