Colorado Rockies: Looking back on three trade rumors for Nolan Arenado last offseason

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Sep 12, 2020; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) reacts following his strikeout in the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

Three main possible trade proposals were floated around last offseason for Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado.

Last offseason, the biggest story for the Colorado Rockies was the relationship between their third baseman Nolan Arenado and their general manager Jeff Bridich and whether or not it would make the Rockies trade Arenado to another team.

As we head into the Hot Stove season in a few weeks, the rumors will likely be bandied about again after the Rockies were, for the second straight season, fruitless in their venture to make it the playoffs and advance further into the playoffs than they did in 2017 and 2018.

The Rockies have more issues on their hands for that situation, though. Arenado was injured for much of the 2020 campaign and, after trying to play through the injury, he ended up not having a good season.

To top it off, Arenado now is just one season away from being able to opt-out of his contract. On the trade market, potential acquiring teams will assuredly bring this up in negotiations and, likely, offer the Rockies much less than they would like in a trade.

Last offseason, three main trades were being floated out there. Let’s take a look at each of the three proposals.

Sep 2, 2020; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) singles in the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

Nolan Arenado to the Mets

One of them involved the Mets. The proposal would have “some combination” of Ronny Mauricio, Francisco Alvarez, Brett Baty, and Matthew Allan. Those four players are the Mets’ top four prospects, according to MLB.com and the former three are on MLB.com’s Top 100 list.

All four of them are very young (Baty is the oldest as he will turn 21 next month) and, according to MLB.com, none of the four are projected to make it to the majors until at least 2022.

Only one of the Mets’ top ten prospects has played above Single-A. For the Rockies, that would be a turn off especially if they want to retool the team quickly and the Rockies’ current regime has that M.O.

They’d love the prospects but at this point, the Rockies would be lucky to get two of those top four players.

Nolan Arenado to the Cubs

This deal is a much more straightforward deal and as a result, this deal probably has the best chance of happening but after all, the chance of any trade happening exactly how hypothetical proposals are drawn up is next to nothing.

This one involved two players: Nolan Arenado and Kris Bryant in a one-for-one swap. Rox Pile’s Kevin Larson offered up his thoughts on the trade rumor back when it was being talked about in late January, including where he would make additions to the proposal.

As the Cubs saw in 2020, they, much like the Rockies, are in desperate need of a boost in the offensive department. That was partially because Kris Bryant, like Arenado, was injured for much of the season. He tried playing through the injuries and his stats suffered because of it. He only hit .206/.293/.351 (73 OPS+) in 34 games in 2020. In the previous three seasons, his OPS+ was 133.

Perhaps, this would be the perfect offseason for both to have a change of scenery.

DENVER, COLORADO – AUGUST 03: Nolan Arenado #28 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates after hitting a 2 RBI home run in the sixth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field on August 03, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Nolan Arenado to the Cardinals

This is another trade proposal, like the Mets proposal, that would be complicated. The proposal, from early January, included the Rockies getting right-handed pitchers Dakota Hudson and Carlos Martinez along with outfielder Tyler O’Neill and minor-league left-hander Matthew Liberatore.

This is more along the lines of what the Rockies would be looking for in a trade proposal: major league talent but also, with a top 100 prospect as well in Liberatore.

The Cardinals still are in desperate need of offense and a third baseman as Matt Carpenter, their primary third baseman, hit .186/.325/.314 with an OPS+ of 77. It was his second-straight season with an OPS+ below league average and the Cardinals second-straight season where their position players had an overall OPS+ below league average.

In the return back to the Rockies, Tyler O’Neill may be the most name in the proposal due to the vast Coors Field outfield. In 2020, he had 9 Defensive Runs Saved for the Cardinals, which was the best on their team. For a full 162-game schedule, that would be equivalent to 30 DRS.

However, since that proposal was made in January, Dakota Hudson got injured and he will likely miss the entire 2021 campaign due to Tommy John surgery so his name is almost definitely out of consideration for being traded.

At the time of the rumored proposal, Rox Pile’s Kevin Larson shared his thoughts on this rumor as well, including whether he thought that the deal would work for the Rockies or not.

Next. 5 players the Rockies wish they still had on their roster. dark

The Arenado trade rumors will likely be the biggest story of the offseason surrounding the Rockies once again and, perhaps, the Rockies may decide to pull the trigger on a trade.

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Colorado Rockies: Looking back on three trade rumors for Nolan Arenado last offseason

Three main possible trade proposals were floated around last offseason for Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado.

Nolan Arenado to the Mets

Nolan Arenado to the Cubs

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Nolan Arenado to the Cardinals

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