What will the 2019 Colorado Rockies possibly look like?

The Big Question

The toughest question for the Rockies doesn’t have anything to do with DJ, CarGo, their catching struggles, or even their long-suffering pitching staff. Instead, the franchise-defining decision that awaits them is what to do with the best third baseman in franchise history.

Nolan Arenado is scheduled to hit free agency for the first time following the 2019 season. By that time he could have as many as seven Gold Gloves on his resume and, if the writers vote like they should this offseason, at least one MVP. He is both the best offensive and defensive third basemen in the game, and potentially the best defender at third in the history of baseball. The exact figure that Arenado will command is certainly debatable, but it is bound to be one of the largest contracts in the game, potentially reaching $30M+ per year.

The price tag alone may make him a hard signing for the small-market Rockies, who already have $70M committed to Blackmon, Desmond, Davis, McGee, and Shaw alone in 2020. Even if the Rockies could swing cash though, there is still the possibility that money alone won’t be enough to keep the greatest home-grown Rockie in purple and black.

Nolan Arenado is one of the most competitive players in Major League Baseball, which puts him high in the running for most competitive human on the planet. He’s made no secret of the fact that winning a World Series is his highest motivating factor, and it remains to be seen if he believes that the Rockies are capable of getting him to that point.

For their part, the Rockies are trying desperately to prove to Arenado that they’re legitimate contenders. They’ve grown remarkably over the last few years and are currently enjoying one of the more successful runs in team history. In the Rockies ideal world they finish the season strong, prove to Nolan that he can win here, and get an extension worked out this offseason.