By Jordan Long
The Colorado Rockies are coming off a 26-34 record in the pandemic shortened 2020 season. It was the 2nd consecutive year they missed the postseason. Rumors are swirling they could trade shortstop Trevor Story and 3rd baseman Nolan Arenado.
Story hit .289 with 11 home runs with 28 RBI’s in the shortened year. He was also able to smack the ball into the gap for extra-base hits totaling 13 doubles and 4 triples. In his career, he is a .277 hitter with 134 home runs and 375 RBI’s. His offense would help a team because Story can move runners around and score his teammates.
The downside is his defense. He seems to rush throwing the baseball to catch runners which causes errors when he throws to any base. Last season, Story committed 10, errors far too many. In his 4 years with the Rockies, he totaled 52.
The Rockies have also tried to make Arenado available. He is one of the best if not the top 3rd baseman in all of MLB for his defense. Arenado has a strong arm and he rarely misplays a ball in the field. He will also dive to catch the baseball and prevent it from heading into the outfield. For his play, Arenado has taken home 8 gold gloves for his defense.
With these rumors going on, manager Bud Black expects both of them to stay with the team to begin the year. According to ESPN, Black said, “My expectation is that they’ll be with us come Opening Day.”
The biggest difficulty in trading either one is their contracts. Story is cheaper. He is going to earn $18.5 million. That is a lot to take on for a franchise. He is also in the final year of his deal too. It could be Story may stay with the Rockies until the trade deadline or the rest of 2021. Depending on where the Rockies are in the standings, he could be a rental for a team. Once the year is up, he is a free agent and can sign with any team in the 2021 offseason.
Arenado’s deal is more complicated. He is due to earn $35 million this year and can opt-out of his current contract and become a free agent for the 2021 offseason. If that happens, Arenado would be the top name in free agency. The challenge for him is would he want to forfeit $35 million in earnings for 2022 through 2024?
Colorado will do what is best for the franchise moving forward. They seem to be rebuilding again this year but the record at the trade deadline will indicate which way they are going. By then the fate of Story and Arenado will be decided, even if the Rockies decide to let both of them go.
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