The story on Trevor Story: Why the Rockies must keep their lone piece of momentum

The lower evaluation would benefit the Rockies, if they plan on extending him.

Each of the three infielders projected to make more than Story are younger and have posted a higher career Wins Above Replacement (WAR).

The projection’s good news comes in the low figure in both years and monetary value of Story’s deal – at least where the Rockies are concerned. Nolan Arenado signed an 8-year, $260 million deal before the 2019 season, leaving the club with a lofty total on their books already. Between the two, if the projections hold, the Rockies would be paying Arenado and Story a combined $62 million each year.

Last year, the Rockies’ payroll settled at a mere $67 million due to prorated salaries and a shortened season. In 2019, they finished at $157 million – good for 11th in the majors. Each year, owner Dick Monfort has long expressed an interest to increase the payroll incrementally.

If the team skips payroll growth in 2021, courtesy of a pandemic which sapped several teams of revenue, then the 2022 payroll figures to be around $180-190 million. For conservative purposes, we’ll use the lower total.

At $180 million, $62 million being paid to Arenado and Story would leave the team with roughly $118 million to spare. Add in Charlie Blackmon’s player option at $21 million and German Marquez’ $15 million from his recent extension and you’re at $82 million.

David Dahl and Kyle Freeland’s second-to-last year of arbitration will also be in effect. The pair figures to settle around $25-30 million combined with a good 2021 season.

The Rockies are in a spot clubs would usually love: A pair of stars, both in their primes, willing to play for a team who has failed to live up to expectations in either of the last two campaigns.

They should love it too.

The only momentum, offensively, for the Rockies lies among three players.

More from Rox Pile

• A Colorado Rockies Thanksgiving
• Colorado Rockies: What if Todd Helton had played football instead?
• Colorado Rockies: Charlie Blackmon out for the season
• Colorado Rockies: Injuries shift look of roster ahead of Dodgers series
• Colorado Rockies: Has Sean Bouchard earned a second look in 2023?

While Bud Black may tell you momentum is merely a day-to-day mirage, the three hitters shouldering his lineup’s load would likely disagree: Nolan Arenado, Trevor Story, and Charlie Blackmon

Marquez’s recent performances landed him a 5-year, $43 million extension. His breakthrough has even given the staff’s makeup a lift with Freeland, Jon Gray, and Antonio Senzatela all showing signs of growth. Story does the same for the batting order.

Through free agency, Ian Desmond, Daniel Murphy, and DJ LeMahieu have all shown evidence of General Manager Jeff Bridich’s ineptitude. Wade Davis, Jake McGee, and Bryan Shaw’s signings all reveal the same.

The Rockies’ farm system also lacks depth from front office woes.

All the club has left is a batch of young, impactful players and enough to fill a roster around them. That group also represents their only chance of avoiding a full-scale rebuild – costs be damned.

A rebuild or a retool represent the only two options left for the Rockies. The club can grant the underlying wishes of Arenado, sending him to a contender and rid themselves of Story before his massive free agency hits and use the pieces they receive to finally start over. They can also mend the relationship with their third baseman and sign Story to a long-term deal.

From recent history, neither path is likely to put the Rockies into a conversation with the league’s elite teams – a place both Arenado and Story desire. Keeping a part of the pair won’t get the club there either. It’s all-in or fold for Bridich and company.