Colorado Rockies: Why Nolan Arenado will not be traded

Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado has been talked about recently in trade conversations, but there a few reasons why I believe he is not going anywhere.

When you think of the Colorado Rockies, what is your immediate thought? Nolan Arenado. He is the face of the franchise and is coming off seven straight gold glove awards. But he has been the subject of trade talks, according to some reports, but there are many roadblocks for the Rockies to get over in order for Arenado to be traded.

First, Nolan Arenado is the face of the Rockies and just a reminder, he signed an 8-year extension worth $260 million during Spring Training. Arenado signed the deal because he wanted to stay with one team for the remainder of his career, and the club was on the rise.

2019 was a step back for Colorado, but the nucleus is all still there–Arenado, Charlie Blackmon, and Trevor Story–so I don’t think that the Rockies should just tear it all down.

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But getting to the contract, that is where the major hurdles come into play if Colorado tried to trade him.

Arenado’s contract is only $15 million larger than Anthony Rendon‘s (who is a better hitter) and it is because he has another year. Rendon was only able to get the $245 million because the team that gave it to him (the Angels) are coming off four straight losing seasons.

So, most contenders are not going to want to pay for Arenado’s contract and if the Rockies try to turn to rebuilding/re-tooling teams they are not ready to take on Arenado’s $32.5 AAV while giving away the top pieces of their farm system at the same time.

And by the way, Arenado has an opt-out after the next two seasons, so that should be a big worry for attracted clubs because they would be giving up multiple prized prospects for possibly just two years of Arenado.

Another thing that will halt trade talks is GM Jeff Bridich will certainly be asking for too much in other team’s eyes. Arenado is one of the best players in the game but teams are either going to decline to give away their top prospects or they are going to make Colorado pay for a chunk of Arenado’s contract.

And that is not a combination that the Rockies would want if they’re giving up the face of their franchise.

The final reason–and the biggest reason– is Nolan Arenado has a full no-trade clause. He is the one that is eventually going to have to approve such a deal and although he hasn’t publicly said he wants out of Colorado, he also hasn’t said that he wants to leave.

Arenado doesn’t know anything other than the being in a Colorado Rockies uniform, and he wasn’t even the one that orchestrated the opt-out after 2021–it was his general manager.

With that said, I don’t believe Arenado is going anywhere because there are too many barriers to get over for both sides in a possible trade.