The Rockies are establishing a trade market for their most-popular players

While other teams look to add pieces at the Winter Meetings, Colorado is teeing up potential suitors for their big-name, high-priced stars

BY JAMES MERILATT

Dec 11, 2019, 2:00 PM

Follow on Google News

Watch: Nuggets trade Watson — Is the Championship window closing? | Stokley and Evans with Mark Schlereth | 9 mins

Major League Baseball’s Winter Meetings are going on this week in San Diego, a gathering where executives from other team discuss trades, wheel and deal with free agents, and try to make moves to improve their roster. It’s where Gerrit Cole inks a mega deal with the Yankees, Madison Bumgarner’s agent sets the market for the top-flight pitcher and bottom-feeding teams try to establish a market for their veterans who might end up on the trading block.

Unfortunately for Rockies fans, Colorado seems to primarily be living in the final group. They’ve kicked the tires of some lesser-tier free agents, but haven’t been in the mix for any of the big names, continuing a trend from recent years. But even more disturbing is the fact that the franchise is positioning to be a “seller” this season.

If that happens, it’ll be the Rockies most-popular players who are of interest to other teams. And based on a report from a prominent MLB writer, that could include Colorado’s megastar.

Rockies are willing to listen to trade inquiries on superstar 3B Nolan Arenado (and anyone else); they’ve gotten many calls on him since trade deadline. Would shake up monster 3B market (Rendon, Donaldson, Bryant) but no one sees as likely yet. Has full no-trade so up to him.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 11, 2019

That news is enough to give every Rockies fan heartburn. The thought of seeing the five-time All-Star and seven-time Gold Glove winner, who only turns 29 in April, leave town is a nightmare scenario. One of the team’s Heyman considers in the mix for Arenado’s services is even more troubling.

Beyond Arenado’s full no trade he has opt out after 2021, which could further complicate trade interest. No surprise interest is huge tho. Dodgers and Rangers are most prominent 3B players but it’s a big group (Nats, Braves, maybe Phillies). Arenado loves Colo but 2019 was tough.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 11, 2019

Arenado landing in Los Angeles would be a worst-case scenario for Colorado. That’s a move that could cause the always-supportive fan base to finally throw up their hands in disgust.

Not long after Heyman dropped his bombshell, the Rockies were trying to walk the news back. Through local members of the media, Jeff Bridich and Company were attempting to calm the masses.

Regarding the rise in trade rumors around #Rockies Nolan Arenado.

Sources have told me there have "been talks" but it remains highly unlikely. Arenado does have full no-trade clause.

— Patrick Saunders (@psaundersdp) December 11, 2019

But some Denver-based scribes were fueling the fire. In fact, one was suggesting that it wasn’t just Arenado who could be traded away.

Phone calls to the Rockies have had the tone of 'keep us in mind later, just in case' in regard to Nolan Arenado, Charlie Blackmon and Trevor Story trade potential, Rox GM Jeff Bridich said.

— Nick Groke (@nickgroke) December 11, 2019

If a team is putting together a “just in case” plan for when the trade deadline is approaching, especially one that involves having suitors teed up for their high-priced veterans, it’s not a good sign and doesn’t create a lot of optimism. It’s the equivalent of boarding a plane and seeing the pilot wearing a parachute; planning for failure makes that result more likely.