Arenado embraces playing for perennial contender in Cards
DENVER — Nolan Arenado hasn’t expressed this much optimism since signing his $260 million contract with Colorado two years ago.
“Excited” was the term the slugging, slick-fielding third baseman used about a dozen times Tuesday at his introductory news conference following his blockbuster trade from the Rockies to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Excited to join a team that’s always in the playoff picture. Excited to join an organization with such rich history.
Left unsaid but just underneath the surface: Excited to flee a franchise that posted just two winning records during his eight years in Denver and never advanced beyond the NL Division Series.
The eight-time Gold Glove winner and five-time All-Star forced his way out of Colorado by steadfastly sticking to a request to be traded. He’ll be suiting up for a Cardinals team thinking about an NL Central title and more, while the Rockies are looking at some variation of a rebuild in front of a frustrated fanbase.
“They really care about winning,” Arenado said of the Cardinals. “That’s all they talk about. It’s really awesome to be a part of. It’s a little different — we’re hopeful we can win the division title and it feels good knowing we have a chance to do that — a good chance.”
While the Cardinals have had 13 consecutive winning seasons with five division titles during the streak, the Rockies have had nine winning seasons since their inaugural campaign in 1993 — and have never won the NL West.
The disconnect between Arenado and the front office started to develop around nine months after he signed his $260 million, eight-year contract in February 2019. The rift centered around improving the team after consecutive playoff appearances in 2017-18. But the Rockies slid back in ‘19 with a 91-loss campaign and missed the postseason again in a virus-shortened ‘20 season.
Enough was enough. He voiced his frustration and wanted out. He couldn’t be swayed.
“I have anguished for many sleepless nights wondering why that happened?” Rockies owner Dick Monfort said. “To be quite honest, in all of our conversations with him, he never just said it was this or that or whatever.
“If I had my druthers, I would rather have Nolan. But it was Nolan’s choice. He wanted to move on.”
The Cardinals acquired Arenado for what some considered a steal: left-hander Austin Gomber and four minor leaguers. As part of the trade, Colorado will send cash to St. Louis to offset part of the money Arenado is due in his contract.
As part of his agreement to waive a no-trade provision, Arenado agreed to add a season to his deal, which now extends for seven seasons through 2027. His deal had given him the right to opt out and become a free agent after the 2021 season. His new agreement gives him the right to opt out and become a free agent after the 2022 or 2023 seasons.
“When we have an opportunity to get premium players from other clubs for whatever reason, it’s incumbent upon us to bring them to St. Louis,” chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. said. “Many of them, of course, have contributed to our championships. To name a few: Matt Holliday, Scott Rolen, Mark McGwire, Adam Wainwright, Jim Edmonds, Chris Carpenter.”