No Nolan Arenado trade, say Rockies

MLB Rumors: A Nolan Arenado trade is not happening, according to Colorado Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich today. Bridich says that the Rockies listened to teams that were interested in Arenado, but talks apparently went nowhere and Bridich says that the Rockies will enter spring training with Arenado as their third baseman.

This always seemed the most likely scenario, despite talk that the Texas Rangers coveted Arenado, and that the St. Louis Cardinals and the Atlanta Braves were after him. The Rockies supposedly wanted significant talent for their All Star, who has eight years and $234 million remaining on the extension he signed, but who can opt out of the deal after 2021.

That opt out, along with the Rockies’ demands and the no-trade clause Arenado has, made a potential Arenado trade a longshot, though there continued to be buzz throughout the winter about the possibility.

With Arenado now, apparently, off the market, teams looking to upgrade third base via trade will have to look at Kyle Seager of the Seattle Mariners and Kris Bryant of the Chicago Cubs, two third basemen who have been rumored to be available.

UPDATE — In the aftermath of Bridich’s comments, Nolan Arenado says that “[t]here’s a lot of disrespect from people there that I don’t want to be a part of.” So things should be awkward for a while.