Prior to Friday’s submission deadline, the Colorado Rockies and third baseman Nolan Arenado exchanged their arbitration figures for Arenado’s 2019 contract. The two sides now have time to work towards an agreement prior to Arenado’s hearing, which would likely fall sometime in February.
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Arenado’s camp has asked for $30 million, while the Rockies countered with $24 million. As Rosenthal notes, either figure would set a new arbitration record.
As a Super-Two player, this is Arenado’s fourth and final year of arbitration before he hits free agency next offseason. The right-handed hitter figures to be the gem of next year’s free agent class.
Arenado, 27, is an impact player on both sides of the ball. He owns a career .291/.346/.539 slash line with 186 home runs and a consistently phenomenal defense at the hot corner. Arenado’s best offensive season came in 2018, where he slashed .297/.394/.561 with a league-leading 38 home runs, good for a career-high 132 wRC+.
Arenado is highly decorated, and deservedly so. The third baseman has won the NL Gold Glove in each of his six Major League seasons, He has also won the NL Platinum Glove each of the last two seasons. He has been named to the NL All-Star team each of the past four seasons and has won the third base Silver Slugger each of those seasons as well.The Rockies would like to extend their homegrown star, but talks have yet to reach any traction. It remains most likely that Arenado hits free agency in search of a big payday following the 2019 season.
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