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

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SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 24: Nolan Arenado #28 of the Colorado Rockies reacts to a strikeout during the game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on September 24, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /

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.

Matt Carpenter

Salary notes: $18.5 million for 2021 and a no-trade clause. There is an option for 2022 that would generate $2 million in a buyout if it isn’t picked up. This is the final year of Carpenter’s two-year, $39 million deal.

Carpenter posted a 92 OPS+ in 2019 and a 77 OPS+ last season. He would immediately slot in at third base if he was part of the deal and accepted the trade to Denver. However, he hasn’t been an All-Star since the 2016 campaign and will be 35 when the 2021 season begins. On the surface, the Rockies would eat the salary in the same way they did when shortstop Jose Reyes came to Colorado in the Troy Tulowitzki deal, knowing they were getting a lower-quality replacement but needing to do it to make the money work for both teams.

Dexter Fowler

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Salary notes: $16.5 million for 2021 and a no-trade clause. Fowler becomes a free agent after the 2021 season, completing a five-year, $82.5 million deal.

Rockies fans, of course, are very familiar with Fowler, a 14th-round draft pick of the club back in 2004. After some very public comments about Fowler’s daily commitment from then-Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd, Fowler was traded to the Houston Astros in the offseason following the 2013 campaign in a much-discussed deal.

Of course, a lot of time has passed since that deal, and Fowler has seen time with the Chicago Cubs and Cardinals since. After signing a meaty contract with the Cardinals late in 2016, Fowler has underwhelmed, hitting just .233/.334/.408 with a 98 OPS+ in exactly 1,500 plate appearances as a Cardinal.

St. Louis would be more than happy to shed Fowler’s deal and his career could come full circle if he came back to Denver, giving the Rockies another veteran outfielder. While there might be some sentimental reasoning for Fowler’s return, his offensive and defensive contributions at age 35 would likely be far less than they were in his first go-round in Denver.

Carlos Martinez

Salary notes: $11.7 million in 2021. It’s the final year of a five-year, $52 million deal. There are options for 2022 and 2023 that include a $500,000 buyout.

Last season was one to forget for the 29-year-old right-hander, who went 0-3 in just five starts and posted a 9.90 ERA and 2.100 WHIP. Martinez not only battled COVID-19, but also an oblique strain in September that prematurely ended his season.

That tough year on and off the field followed a 2019 season when Martinez moved to the bullpen from the rotation and performed well, earning 24 saves as he logged a 3.17 ERA and 2.86 FIP. He started the year on the injured list, and shoulder issues and concern about him handling long innings pushed him to the bullpen.

If Martinez were part of the deal for Arenado, would he be used as a piece in a Rockies bullpen that is already quite full because of a lack of minor league options? It’s likely he would be pushed into the back end of the rotation where the Rockies do have a need for starting depth.

Andrew Miller

Salary notes: $12 million in 2021 and a no-trade clause. Unrestricted free agent in 2022.

This will be Miller’s 16th Major League season and he saw action in 73 games for the Cardinals in 2019, but was even better for the Cardinals in the shortened 2020 season. A 2.77 ERA in 13.0 innings across 16 games that included 16 strikeouts and a 1.077 WHIP.

A quote from this article that sums up the last two seasons and what Miller could bring to Colorado. Again, the Rockies would have to find room for him in the bullpen.

“At times, Miller has been inconsistent and struggled with his command — a big reason for his 4.45 ERA in 2019. But other times, he has been the veteran reliever the Cardinals signed him to be before the ’19 season: A high-leverage arm and veteran presence in the bullpen looked to for late-inning outs against hard-hitting lefties. That’s who he and the Cardinals hope he can continue to be this season and next season.”

Next. Our prediction on when and if Nolan Arenado is traded. dark

Note: There is also a possibility that pitcher Miles Mikolas and his $17 million salary could be included. However, he is due $51 million over the next three seasons, making that a far less attractive option for the Rockies.

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