Although the winter has been light on monster contracts, there has been a monster arbitration deal. Nolan Arenado sets a new record:
Arenado’s one-year, $26M deal with the #Rockies is a record for a player through the arbitration process.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 1, 2019
The Colorado Rockies have agreed to a one-year contract with 3B Nolan Arenado.
The club has now agreed to contracts with all eight arbitration-eligible players, including Arenado. pic.twitter.com/tbjI4DcNs8
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) February 1, 2019
That $26 million figure is the highest ever achieved by an arbitration-eligible player, and it’s the mark Kris Bryant will be shooting to top in a couple years. Then again, with Mookie Betts crossing the $20 million line in second-to-last arbitration year, there may very well be a new record next year at this time.
This is at least the second deal reached by an arbitration-eligible player and his team after the exchange of arbitration figures, which kinda puts a chill in the idea that every team has gone to a hard-and-fast file-and-trial strategy. For what it’s worth.
As for Arenado, who is expected to be one of the top players on the free agent market after this season, the Rockies may well want to see that he never gets that chance:
Arenado deal came after face-to-face meeting of several hours between Arenado, his agent Joel Wolfe, #Rockies GM Jeff Bridich and owner/CEO Dick Montfort, sources tell The Athletic. Length of meeting, avoidance of hearing positive signs as #Rockies try to sign Arenado long-term.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 1, 2019
In a year when 26-year-olds Bryce Harper and Manny Machado can’t see to drum up enough interest to land a huge contract (yet), you do wonder if the Rockies would have the stomach to ink the kind of contract it would take to keep the 27-year-old Arenado from reaching free agency.