Colorado Rockies: To trade, or not to trade Nolan Arenado?

That is not the question.

It almost feels blasphemous to even bring this up.

After a month of 10-16 baseball and seven games back in an underwhelming National League West, the enthusiasm for the Colorado Rockies playoffs chances is quickly dwindling. In an excellent and revealing piece by Nick Groke of The Athletic, Nolan Arenado expressed his frustrations of losing. It wasn’t calling anyone out, but coming from the Rockies best player, it seems like a well timed rallying call.

This isn’t a move uncommon for Rockies players. This is a page taken from Arenado’s mentor and former teammate, Troy Tulowitzki. As a matter of fact, Tulo mentioned almost the same thing to Nick Groke back in 2014. After making the comments, he was traded nearly a year later.

Times are tense after June, in a season where many experts thought the club looked improved from last year’s playoff run. The Rockies have improved, in many respects even in difficult month from what they were struggling with when the club was in first place. The bats have come back to a place where Rockies fans are more accustom. Tyler Anderson pitched a shut out in LA and even in a loss, Kyle Freeland‘s performance against the Giants is showing what this young rotation is capable of. But injuries and poor performance continue to plague this bullpen. In just one month, the perception of the club looks like they are in sell mode before the trade deadline.

Mike Evans of 104.3 The Fan made the argument that Nolan Arenado should be traded in the offseason of 2018. He makes a fair point that this is the time to get the most in return for the game’s best third baseman before his contract expires in 2019. Even though it feels incredibly wrong to mention Arenado and trade in the same sentence, this is how low the perception of this club has gotten.

Mike Evans on Nolan Arenado: "You got to get rid of him!"

"If you are non-competitive this year, there’s nothing that you’re going to be able to project next year that’s going to be enough to convince him this is the place to be. You got to get rid of him!" – Mike Evans

Posted by Sports Radio 104.3 The Fan on Thursday, June 28, 2018

But the question isn’t to trade Arenado. He legitimately has a shot to be the greatest Rockie ever. He’s Tulowitizki, if Tulo didn’t sustain what has become heartbreaking chronic injuries. He is the cornerstone of this franchise and the foundation to what this team should build on. It may be beneficial to reference the team from a decade ago. Look at the 2017 season similarly to the 2007 season and the 2018 similar to the 2008 season.

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There were many trade rumors about Todd Helton moving to the Boston Red Sox before the 2007 season. In hindsight, Todd would have a championship if that happened but the Rockies would still never have a World Series appearance without him. Todd’s toddlers grew up under his guidance. He was the foundation. Struggling in 2008 and the beginning of the 2009 season looked like the Rockies were going to blow up and start from scratch. While management wasn’t patient with Clint Hurdle, they were patient with the team and it paid off in a playoff appearance where they were better than those 2009 World Series appearance Phillies. (Another story for another time).

So yes, if the Rockies don’t make the playoffs in 2018 and don’t look competitive in 2019, trading Arenado becomes a more legitimate question. Wait until the trade deadline in 2019. If the club does trade him, they need to rebuild circa 2011 Houston Astros. Not just shuffling things around like they did when Tulo went to Toronto.

Next: Colorado Rockies: Tyler Anderson shines in win over Dodgers

A better question becomes who can the Rockies trade now to make this team more competitive to convince Arenado he can win here for some time to come? These trades need to be for more bullpen depth even though the Rockies is one of the most expensive bullpens in the league. So who do you trade? DJ? Parra? Desmond? Our friends over at Purple Row make some interesting suggestions. Because if the Rockies don’t make some key moves now, their best player would be more than justified to walk away after next season.

Who would you trade?