Colorado Rockies rumors: Yankees preparing for a run at Nolan Arenado?

It is no secret that the Colorado Rockies are going to do everything they can to keep Nolan Arenado at Coors Field throughout the prime of his career. However, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic is wondering if the New York Yankees are already thinking ahead to how they can bring the All-Star third baseman to the Big Apple.

In this article (subscription required), Rosenthal wonders if the Yankees will pass on Manny Machado and Bryce Harper this offseason in order to save their resources and land Arenado, the Colorado Rockies‘ six-time Gold Glove winner and four-time All-Star, when his contract expires after this season. Arenado heads into the 2019 campaign in the final year of arbitration and his final year under Colorado control.

Colorado general manager Jeff Bridich has discussed in prior media conferences this offseason how the Rockies and Arenado’s camp have already had preliminary talks about extending his contract. However, it is a distinct possibility that an extension will not happen before the start of the regular season. If that is the case, Arenado and the Rockies will enter the final year of Colorado control with a lot of questions hanging over the team and what will happen with Arenado.

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It has been estimated that some of the contract pricing being discussed in regard with Harper this season (roughly 10 years and $300 million) could be a barometer for what the Rockies will face if they want to keep the 27-year-old Arenado in purple for years to come.

Arenado has put together four consecutive seasons with 110 or more RBI and paced the National League with 38 home runs last season on his way to earning his fourth consecutive Silver Slugger Award and his first-ever finish in the top three in voting for the National League Most Valuable Player.

Statistics like that (and Arenado’s well-known work ethic and ability to make amazing plays (like these top 10) make it no surprise that any team would want Arenado manning the hot corner. How much will a team be willing to have him there? That may be one of the defining questions that will decide where Arenado spends the majority of the rest of his career.