With Arenado locked up, are the Rockies a World Series contender?

Feb 26, 2019, 5:38 PM Updated: Feb 27, 2019, 2:17 am

The baseball world better stand up and recognize. The Colorado Rockies, led by freshly inked star third baseman Nolan Arenado, will not be disrespected. At least that’s what Rockies television analyst Jenny Cavnar told “The Drive” on Tuesday

Cavnar, joining the program to break down the Rockies and Arenado coming to an agreement on an eight-year contract extension worth a reported $260 million, said the baseball community “better respect this franchise because they’re making moves.”

“They locked up Buddy Black. They know what he can do for this pitching staff. They have a lot of young depth, some home-grown talent, and now they’re keeping their home-grown talent when they become very successful players,” Cavnar said. “It’s a really big day in this organization.”

But does that young, talented pitching staff and depth, not to mention the four-time All-Star at third base, make the Rockies a legitimate World Series contender?

Cavnar said you need not look further than Arenado’s one and only goal: Winning.

“At the end of the day, if he walks away from this deal with a World Series ring, that’s all that’s going to matter to him,” Cavnar said. “So, I think for fans that speaks volumes, him staying here and not wanting to go out and test free agency because he believes in his heart of hearts that this team, that roster, that clubhouse, has the tools to win a championship.”

“The Drive” co-host DMac said he “absolutely” loves the Arenado extension because he believes the Rockies are a “World Series-contending team now.”

“I don’t like this deal; I absolutely love it. Because it tells me the Rockies are serious and should be considered as a World Series contender right now,” DMac said.

And while even up until the 2017 season it wasn’t a fair assumption, “Stokley and Zach” co-host Zach Bye said the expectation for this Rockies squad should be if not winning a World Series at least playing in one.

“It is fair. They won 91 games last year — 91 games. That’s more than a little bit. They have one of the best rosters in the sport. And they were in the playoffs last year,” Bye said. “So, it’s not like we’re saying the Padres are going to win it all or speculating that a bottom-feeder club is going to compete. No, this is a really good baseball team and the window is now.”

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.