Colorado Rockies: Nolan Arenado salary swap with the St. Louis Cardinals?

As the rumors continue to fly linking Colorado Rockies All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado to the St. Louis Cardinals, it’s clear that money will be one of the driving forces behind a deal getting done or being pushed to the side.

With a contract in place he signed before the 2019 campaign, Arenado is due $199 million over the next six seasons. That includes $35 million per year through the 2024 campaign. In an era where many teams are looking to cut costs rather than incur them, Arenado’s contract is hefty. However, it’s not exorbitant even in today’s pandemic-centered economic thoughts. George Springer just inked a six-year, $150 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, so there’s at least a sniff of a money-to-years comparison there.

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However, there’s no logical reason that the Cardinals would take on Arenado’s contract straight up, adding to a payroll that was in the top 10 in each of the last two seasons. With that in mind, the Rockies would likely be expected to eat some of Arenado’s contract, or swap high-dollar contracts with some already on the books for the Cardinals in 2021.

When thinking of a swap, there are four contracts that stand out when looking at the St. Louis payroll. Let’s take a look at what they are and what they might mean for the Rockies.