How the 2019 offseason killed the Colorado Rockies-Nolan Arenado relationship

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 24: Nolan Arenado #28 of the Colorado Rockies reacts to a strike out 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)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 24: Nolan Arenado #28 of the Colorado Rockies reacts to a strike out 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)
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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
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 /

The Colorado Rockies and Nolan Arenado met the media on Tuesday, less than 24 hours after the Rockies officially dealt the All-Star third baseman to the St. Louis Cardinals.

It’s clear that the relationship between Arenado and Rockies management has been sour for some time. “Disrespect” was a word used by Arenado just over a year ago, and those feelings had been brewing for some time. Rockies owner Dick Monfort told the media (and general public watching through local television platforms) that Arenado asked for the Rockies to start looking for a trade after the 2019 season. Arenado confirmed in a separate call with Rockies media that the offseason following Colorado’s 71-91 mark was the beginning of the end for him in Denver.

“I wouldn’t say it was one general conversation, but after the ’19 season, we didn’t really make a move and I guess I didn’t know that was part of the plan,” Arenado told Rox Pile and other media members on Tuesday. “I thought there was a different plan, but it is what it is.”

While Arenado was clear on Tuesday that he wasn’t blaming anyone for the situations that led to his trade to St. Louis, it’s also clear that inaction on Colorado’s part eventually led to the face of their franchise being shipped off to a National League rival.

Aug 25, 2020; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 25, 2020; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Anything that happened (or didn’t, for that matter) in the offseason following 2019 ties back to the end of the 2018 Colorado Rockies campaign.

The Rockies forced the Los Angeles Dodgers into Game 163 to decide the National League West title, with both teams finishing at 91-71.

On October 1, 2018, at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles recorded a 5-2 win, halting the Rockies from winning their first-ever division title and sending the Rockies to Chicago for the National League Wild Card game to meet the Cubs the next night.

Colorado would win that game and earn an NLDS date with Milwaukee. However, the Brewers swept the Rockies, ending the 2018 season … but hope was high that, with Arenado, Trevor Story, and Charlie Blackmon anchoring the offense and a young rotation progressing, Colorado could possibly knock the Dodgers off their perennial NL West pedestal.

Part of that hope came when the Rockies inked Arenado to a massive deal, a contract that would hopefully keep him in Colorado for years to come. However, part of that deal was the assurance that the Rockies would continue to build around Arenado in a quest to keep their upward trajectory going.

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
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 /

But there was more happening with the Rockies that offseason than just Arenado’s contract.

DJ LeMahieu was signed by the Yankees to a two-year, $24 million deal. Daniel Murphy became Colorado’s biggest free-agent signing, inking a similar contract with the Rockies. While LeMahieu went on to show he was no Coors Field product in New York, finishing fourth in the AL MVP voting, Murphy suffered a finger injury in Colorado’s season-opening series and would miss time with the injury, then struggle once he returned. Colorado GM Jeff Bridich admitted that Murphy may have returned too quickly, not helping the cause at all.

The 2019 season turned out to be a disaster for the Rockies, with Kyle Freeland falling from finishing fourth in NL Cy Young balloting to being demoted to Triple-A and Colorado seemingly never recovering from a four-game home series with the San Diego Padres over Father’s Day weekend when the teams combined to score 92 runs and log 131 hits, both modern-day records for a four-game set.

After 91-72 (including the Game 163 loss) in 2018, the Rockies went 71-91 in 2019. Two days after the season ended, Bridich, team owner Dick Monfort, and manager Bud Black meet with the media and explain how major changes aren’t needed for the team to rebound in 2020.

Major changes don’t happen that offseason, with pitcher Jose Mujica becoming the only free-agent signing. The 24-year-old right-hander would see action in just two games in 2020, registering a 2.769 WHIP, partly with 10 hits surrendered in 4.1 innings pitched.

That same offseason, Arenado’s discontent begins to bubble very publicly. He tells the Denver ABC affiliate that, “Jeff (Bridich) is very disrespectful” and “I can only get crossed so many times.” The Arenado-Bridich spat becomes the early focus of spring training before COVID-19 shuts down camp and forces baseball to temporarily halt.

DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 16: Nolan Arenado #28 of the Colorado Rockies reacts in frustration after popping out in the ninth inning of a game at Coors Field on September 16, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 16: Nolan Arenado #28 of the Colorado Rockies reacts in frustration after popping out in the ninth inning of a game at Coors Field on September 16, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

The 2020 season for the Rockies seemed to be the straw that broke the camel’s back for Arenado staying with the Rockies.

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When play finally resumes in July, Colorado starts the season 11-3 but unravels to finish with a 26-34 mark. Arenado, suffering through a shoulder injury that severely limited his offensive output, says in mid-September that, “Eight teams (out of 15) make the playoffs, and if we’re not one of those eight teams that’s not a very good sign.” The Rockies don’t make the playoffs and Arenado’s season comes to an early end because of the shoulder.

Four months later, Arenado is traded to St. Louis.

“In 2018, when we lost by a game in the division, it seemed like we were headed down the right path,” Arenado said on Tuesday. “And then the last few years, I didn’t know where it was going.”

And that’s where the Rockies frustrated Arenado enough that he asked for a trade, according to owner Dick Monfort on Tuesday. Bridich said that they “tried to honor that” by trading Arenado to St. Louis, which is a team that is the most winningest in the NL and last had a losing record in back-to-back seasons (like the Rockies did in 2019 and 2020) was in 1994 and 1995, which weren’t even full seasons due to the 1994-95 Player’s Strike.

dark. Next. Bridich: "Blame me" for the Rockies gaffes in the last few years

As former MLB commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti said in 1989 after he banned Pete Rose from baseball, “it’s a sad end of a sorry episode” for Rockies fans that are having to deal with this situation and the Rockies window of contention being slammed shut. And now, the Rockies “must now live with the consequences of those acts” that were brought on by the Rockies themselves by giving Arenado an opt-out clause in his contract that he didn’t ask for or want and by not getting adequate secondary talent and depth to help Arenado and company be a playoff team for years to come. And among those consequences may be a lot of Rockies fans turning to another MLB team to support, at least until the Rockies leadership changes hands.

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