Colorado Rockies: Chicago Cubs are ‘absolutely motivated’ to acquire Nolan Arenado

According to David Kaplan of NBC Sports Chicago and ESPN Radio Chicago, the Chicago Cubs are ‘absolutely motivated’ to acquire Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado.

There have been rumors involving the Colorado Rockies and Chicago Cubs and a trade for Nolan Arenado throughout much of the offseason but now, we are hearing that the Cubs are ‘absolutely motivated’ to acquire Arenado, according to David Kaplan of NBC Sports Chicago and ESPN Radio Chicago.

On his radio show on ESPN Radio in Chicago, here’s more of what Kaplan said.

"“I was on the phone with somebody in Colorado [Tuesday] night who covers the Rockies,” Kaplan said. “He said to me, ‘hey dude, let me just tell you, these discussions are real. [Arenado] absolutely wants out of the Colorado Rockies organization and he’s made it clear to ownership, ‘I don’t want to be here. Get me outta here.’“He said, ‘I’m telling you, the Cubs are absolutely motivated to try and get him. Absolutely, 100 percent.’”"

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Kaplan says that a deal between the two teams would likely involve Kris Bryant and a prospect coming to Colorado in exchange for Arenado and cash.

Kaplan’s report backs up what Les Shapiro of Mile High Sports Radio reported on Twitter on Tuesday, in which he cited two sources (one close to Arenado and one close to the Cubs), that the Cubs would be continuing to chase Arenado in a trade, partially because Arenado is “still very unhappy” with the Rockies. Shapiro also reported that Arenado would “warmly welcome a trade to the Cubs.”

Rox Pile’s Kevin Henry also discussed Shapiro’s tweet, along with some reports from Jon Morosi and Patrick Saunders of MLB.com and The Denver Post, in this article on Wednesday.

As Saunders noted on Twitter on Thursday, the Cubs could be behind all of this as they may be “creating media noise” so that they would be able to make a better deal with another team for Kris Bryant. Saunders mentions the Phillies, Braves, and Nationals as three potential landing spots for Bryant.

Unfortunately for Rockies fans, until the regular season gets started and only if the Rockies start off the season really well, there will be plenty of more Nolan Arenado trade rumors to come in the coming weeks.