Is Nolan Arenado headed to Los Angeles this offseason?
It’s starting to seem that way.
Jon Morosi of MLB.com is reporting that the Dodgers remain interested in trading for Arenado. Morosi notes that the Dodgers have liked Arenado for years and will continue to try trading for him.
Arenado signed a long-term extension with the Colorado Rockies back in 2019. The deal was worth $255 million over eight years. The Colorado third baseman can opt-out of his contract after the third year.
One interesting side note in all of this is that in a move that’s proving to be par for the course during his tenure running the team, Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich was the brain surgeon who put the opt-out in Arenado’s deal.
In a radio interview on MLB Network Radio, MLB analyst and insider for CBS Sports Jim Bowden said, “Nolan Arenado will be a Dodger by Christmas.” Bowden also added that the Dodgers have been in contact with Bridich and mentioned that Arenado is, “planning on opting out of his contract with the Rockies in a year.”
The eight-time Gold Glove winner also has a no-trade clause in his contract, which means he can pretty much choose where he gets traded. Arenado would definitely waive his no-trade clause for Los Angeles since he grew up as a Dodgers fan in Southern California. Arenado also spends his offseasons back in California.
According to Morosi, Arenado can ask that his opt-out date be moved back to a later season as a condition of waiving his no-trade protection. The Dodgers likely would welcome that adjustment, since it ensures more years of control.
The defending champion Dodgers are in the market for a third baseman due to the fact that Justin Turner is a free agent. Morosi also points out that the Dodgers are focused on a right handed bat to fill the middle on their lineup. Arenado is one of three players to hit over 200 home runs in the past six seasons. The other two players are Mike Trout and Nelson Cruz. Arenado has also won four Silver Slugger awards along with leading the National League in home runs three different times.
Even though Arenado had a sub-standard season with the Rockies in 2020 with a batting average of .253, his glove on defense made up for his offensive struggles. Arenado won his eighth Gold Glove award tying Brooks Robinson and Scott Rolen for the most at the position. Arguably the greatest third baseman in MLB history, Arenado has won a gold glove each season he has been in the league. Arenado has also won four straight Platinum Glove awards as the top defensive player in each league.
This is a move that would make Rockies fans very unhappy, as they’ve already openly expressed their hatred for Bridich. The Harvard grad has also traded shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, another fan favorite, to the Toronto Blue Jays after he was unhappy with how Bridich was refusing to make the team into a championship contender. Tulowitzki was wrongly criticized for wanting out and the same thing could happen for Arenado.
The fact is Colorado isn’t worried about winning, they’re more worried about filling the party deck at 20th and Blake.
Arenado has expressed his concerns behind the scenes about the direction of the franchise and it seems like a move will likely happen sooner than later.
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