Arenado’s deal supersedes the one-year arbitration contract he signed last month for $26MGETTY IMAGES
With the Rockies and 3B Nolan Arenado agreeing to an eight-year, $260M contract extension, team Owner Dick Monfort "put to rest any doubt that he might ever commit again to a superstar player," according to Nick Groke of THE ATHLETIC. The deal, which includes a player opt-out after three seasons, will pay Arenado on average $32.5M per year through '26, the "highest annual average value contract in baseball’s history for a position player." Arenado's deal "supersedes the record-setting, one-year arbitration contract he signed last month" for $26M. Monfort "opened his payroll to what will shatter his club’s highest opening-day expenditure in their 27-year history," and the Rockies "made clear they are serious about contending." The Rockies have two years remaining on "one of the lowest-paying regional television contracts in baseball" -- a 10-year, $200M deal with AT&T SportsNet. But Arenado "almost surely makes that deal more valuable when the Rockies begin to renegotiate" (THEATHLETIC.com, 2/26). In Colorado Springs, Woody Paige writes Monfort "took a deep breath and a big risk" with Arenado, and the Rockies are "going all-in on an effort to reach the postseason for a third straight year." The team now has five players receiving $10M or more, and a total payroll of approximately $150M (Colorado Springs GAZETTE, 2/27).
TALKING BASEBALL: USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale writes both Arenado and the Rockies during negotiations "were being transparent, leading to calm, respectful and quiet talks." Arenado: "That’s why I have a lot of respect for them. No one’s playing any games. That’s why I’m willing to stay because of how they’ve communicated so well with me." Arenado became the "first player in history to sign a contract eclipsing" $225M while "remaining with the same team" (USA TODAY, 2/27). THE RINGER's Zach Kram wrote the deal "yields applause on all sides: Arenado for receiving the contract he deserves," the Rockies for "paying a player his worth in an offseason rife with financial frustrations, and the sport of baseball for reminding fans why they watch" (THERINGER.com, 2/26). SI.com's Tom Verducci wrote the Rockies "stepped up with an offer that essentially asked, 'How much more do you really want?'" (SI.com, 2/26).
SECURITY BLANKET: ESPN's Michael Wilbon said Arenado re-upping with the Rockies is an "important signing, and maybe it's also Arenado saying, 'These free-agent bonanzas aren't quite what agents have been promising'" ("PTI," ESPN, 2/26). In DC, Dave Sheinin noted the past few weeks have seen a "flurry of long-term extensions, and the state of free agency is almost certainly a motivating factor" (WASHINGTON POST, 2/27). SI.com's Emma Baccellieri wrote Arenado's lengthy extension "carries the possibility of missing out on a larger future payday." But the deal "offers precious security in a precarious market, and it makes sense that there will be players whose personal calculus will work out in favor of such a move" (SI.com, 2/26).
