Rockies star: ‘All I want to do is win’
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Nolan Arenado, wiping the perspiration off his face after a rigorous workout, plops down in front of his locker, and for the next 40 minutes, talking in a soft, calm tone, tries to simplify his complicated relationship with the Colorado Rockies.
He doesn’t want to go into details, or ask you to take sides, but simply wants to convey his message in what’s looming as baseball’s ugliest divorce one year into their honeymoon.
A year ago Thursday, Arenado was sitting on a dais in front of the Rockies’ clubhouse, sandwiched between GM Jeff Bridich and owner Dick Monfort, signing a franchise-record eight-year, $260 million contract, making him a Rockie for life.
Now, he’s no longer speaking with Bridich, and in his last conversation with Monfort reminded him that he was promised they would build around him. If not, feel free to trade him.
The Rockies didn’t make a trade and signed only one free agent to a majorleague contract, Jose Mujica, who hasn’t pitched in two years. It was hardly what Arenado had in mind, after going 71-91 last season, finishing 35 games out of first place.
If Arenado knew this was going to happen, he would have played out the year, gone to free agency, and would be the starting third baseman for the powerful Los Angeles Dodgers or even his hometown Angels.
“Of course, I look back,’’ says Arenado, a seven-time Gold Glove winner who has finished in the top eight in MVP voting the past five seasons. “I’m human, man.’’
Instead, he’s on a team that tried to trade him all winter, couldn’t find a suitor to meet their demands, and now will be in Colorado likely until the July 31 trade deadline, when the Rockies will again try to move him.
“I wish certain things would happen,’’ Arenado says, “but they see a different view I don’t see. So sometimes you butt heads in those situations.
“We’re just both going to do our jobs, with no arguments, and that’s how we’re going to keep it.’’
Yet at the same time, Arenado refuses pretend all is fine. You want the truth?
“The fans don’t want me to lie to them,’’ Arenado says. “I’m going to be honest. I’m telling them what I feel, you know. They want transparency, and that’s what I’m going to do. But you’re going to hear both sides, right?
“If you sign for a lot of money, and pack it in, it’s like, ‘Oh, he just signed for the money and doesn’t care anymore.’ But if you sign for the money, and want to win, it’s like, ‘Wait, be quiet, you got paid a lot of money, you can’t complain.’
“Some people may not want to hear what I have to say, but that’s the truth. This is where I’m coming from. I’m not going to change. If you don’t like it, I’m sorry, but at least appreciate that I’m being honest.’’
Rockies’ management, of course, would prefer he keeps his thoughts to himself. They were livid last September when Arenado said it started to feel like another rebuild. They were offended when Arenado questioned their desire to win in a private meeting with Monfort and Bridich. And when Bridich announced in late January that Arendado would not be traded, they felt assaulted when Arenado lashed out and said he was being disrespected.
“I wasn’t mad that I wasn’t traded,’’ Arenado said. “I was just upset it was out there. I guess they felt they needed to put it out in the public to let the fans know what was going on. I just thought it should have been kept in-house. So it was just frustration, a mixture of a lot of things, that came out.’’
Bridich apologized for the public feud two weeks ago at media day, saying: “Certainly, you don’t want there to be turmoil or crises or anything like that. Sometimes there are professional disagreements in a business.’’
Arenado, 28, concedes it was awkward when he first arrived, choosing to work out at Arizona State instead of showing up early at Rockies’ camp.
Only now, with spring-training games starting, everything is starting to feel normal. Rockies manager Bud Black sees the same energy level from Arenado. His teammates, who understand his frustration, insist they haven’t seen any difference in his behavior.
There were times this winter when Arenado was shaken by the conflict and turbulence, but he’s finally found peace, with friends like Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton, empathizing with his situation.
Stanton, after all, endured the same circumstances when he played for the Marlins. He signed a 13-year, $330 million contract on Nov. 14, 2014, with the Marlins promising they’d build around him, too. He was traded three years later to New York.
“When we get contracts like that,’’ Stanton said, “we’re pretty much viewed as just a contract. It’s not that I’m being paid this money, so I’m cool. We want to be the best and get to the top. That’s what you work so hard for.
“Yeah, the money is a great bonus, we’re set for life and all of that, but you still have goals and want to reach the top. That’s what you’re playing for, to be a World Series champion.’’
So Stanton, who shares the same agent as Arenado, Joel Wolfe, talked with Arenado, sharing his own trials and tribulations.
And just before the start of spring training, he sent Arenado a lengthy text message, reminding him to just keep playing the way he always has, blocking out all of the distractions and commotion surrounding him.
“Giancarlo has been a huge help to me,’’ Arenado says. “I really appreciate his guidance and his input. He’s gone through a lot. And he knew exactly what I was going through.
There’s nothing Arenado can do now but play baseball.
And wait.
The beauty of his contract is that it includes a full no-trade clause. He can’t be blindsided by a trade like former Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki in 2015 when he was sent to Toronto.
The Rockies have yet to ask Arenado for a list of teams he’d approve of for a deal, but preliminary talks during the winter never progressed with the Cardinals, Cubs and Braves.
Who knows, maybe the Rockies will eventually leave the decision to Arenado. He has an opt-out clause after the 2021 season. He could always leave, walking away from the $164 million left on his contract the final five years, but the Rockies wouldn’t get anything in return but memories and a draft pick.
Forget the legacy of being one of the greatest Rockies’ players in franchise history.
He wants more.
“You can go to All-Star Games,’’ Arenado says. “Win Silver Sluggers. Win Gold Gloves. Whenever you accomplish those things, it’s always a good feeling. I’d rather win a World Series than have my number retired.
“All I want to do is win.
“It stinks not being good enough.’’