Colorado Rockies: The “inevitable” trade of Nolan Arenado

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Colorado Rockies trading third baseman Nolan Arenado is “inevitable.”

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic published an article on the four big trade commodities that may be on the market right now: Francisco Lindor, Mookie Betts, Kris Bryant, and Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado.

In both his article and on MLB Network’s Hot Stove, Rosenthal described the Rockies trading Arenado as “inevitable.” He later clarified that it may not be “inevitable” this offseason but it is “inevitable” before the July trade deadline.

That is a departure from what we’ve heard in the developments of the past few days in which there was a “50-50” chance of Arenado being traded and prior to that, the chances of him being traded as pretty low.

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On Hot Stove, Rosenthal said that he thinks that it’s “inevitable” because he thinks that Arenado is not happy with the Rockies, considering how he felt that “it feels like a rebuild” in September and he has not come out and put the trade talks to rest (remember: he has a full no-trade clause so he could easily say that he won’t waive it).

The Rockies have also spent exactly zero dollars on major league free agents this offseason, which doesn’t help show Arenado that they are exactly urgent to try to be winners in 2020.

Rosenthal contends that the Rockies may not be happy with Arenado because his comments in September and lack thereof recently. For what it’s worth, we haven’t heard anything from the Colorado Rockies or Arenado on the issue since the Winter Meetings nearly a month ago.

The Cleveland Indians, for example, in Francisco Lindor rumors, held a conference call on Wednesday, and club President Chris Antonetti said this on the Lindor rumors:

“Yes, I still have every expectation that [Lindor] will be our shortstop Opening Day,” Antonetti said. “I’m more confident today in saying that, as more of the offseason has passed, but that’s still our expectation. I’ve tried to be pretty consistent with this. I have never had a different expectation other than [Lindor] will be our shortstop Opening Day.”

The Indians decided to douse the hot stove rumors with a fire distinguisher that only left embers behind but the Rockies (and Arenado) are, at least for now, letting the hypothetical smoke (and maybe fire) from the hot stove continue to build.

Considering that the the talk that has been bestowed by not just Rosenthal but also Jeff Passan of ESPN, Jon Morosi of MLB.com, and others on top of the silence from both sides, it really makes you wonder.