Nolan Arenado Doesn’t Want to Beef Publicly With the Rockies Anymore

While the trade possibilities are still very much on the table, it sounds like Nolan Arenado regrets going public with his frustration with the Rockies this week.

Mixed up on trade rumors for most of the offseason – a year after signing a massive extension, and after the Rockies have done nothing to improve the team – Arenado said he felt his GM was “very disrespectful” and that he’d been “crossed” by the organization. The precise contours of those comments were unclear, but it seemed clear enough that Arenado was very unhappy with the state of things. Jeff Passan reported that it was mostly attributable to the Rockies’ inaction this offseason (and you could, by extension, surmise it was connected then in some way to Arenado’s standing on the team).

But if you’re hoping for more DRAH-MA from Arenado, you probably aren’t going to get it any time soon. Here’s the statement he issued to Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post:

The bit there at the end that gets cut off is “I’m getting ready for the upcoming season. I’m working hard to get better for my teammates and fans. NA28.”

In other words, Arenado remains as pissed as he sounded – about something going on behind the scenes – but he regrets saying it publicly (out of character). He’s not going to talk about it further at this time, and he’s gonna focus on preparing for the season.

That all sounds well and good, but these situations necessarily hang like a dark cloud over an organization, especially when it’s about the dang face of your franchise, who is on a monster deal for the next seven years. The questions will be impossible to avoid in Spring Training, and then for months thereafter if the Rockies are losing. I tend to think there’s no way Arenado finishes his contract with the Rockies.

To that end, maybe he’s traded soon, or at midseason, or maybe the Rockies just hope he plays the next two years and then opts out of his contract. As we’ve already discussed, the situation is such that the Rockies simply cannot get a great deal for Arenado in trade, thanks to the contract and his no-trade clause, so the question is whether they just want to move on, or if they want to try to salvage this relationship. Ugly stuff either way.

Makes you thankful that everything about the Cubs and Kris Bryant has been cordial, above-board, and subdued, yes?

written by

Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

more cubs news

Finally, a Team Wanted the Reigning NL Cy Young Winner

The rumors all wound up being true: Blake Snell would take a two-year deal in the $60 million range, the Giants were probably the favorites now, and the pressure was on to get something done. Per Jon Heyman, it two...

Blake Snell’s Reasonable Price Tag? Why Jordan Montgomery Might Wait a Little Longer?

A couple updates on the top remaining - yup, still - free agent starting pitchers, lefties Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery. Although rumors picked up on Snell and the Astros late last week, no signing news dropped. It was surprising,...

Garrett Crochet Will Start on Opening Day for the White Sox, Marking an Extreme Rarity

We don't cover the White Sox around here in a particularly close way - maybe a touch more than other non-NL-Central clubs because of the intracity interest - but this was surprising and interesting enough for me to note. The...

Chicago Cubs Shortstop Prospect Jefferson Rojas Wants to Be Javy Báez

I haven’t exactly made it a secret that Jefferson Rojas is one of my favorite prospects in the Chicago Cubs’ farm system. After debuting in the DSL at 17, Rojas skipped complex ball and wound up at Low-A Myrtle Beach...

Taillon Throwing and a Roster Benefit, Amaya Catching, Friedl Wrist, Williams, Alonso, and Other Cubs Bullets

You know, if Seiya really rakes, and Cody hits again, and if Nico and Happ get on base a ton and Busch turns out to be a stud, and if Dansby is above average and Amaya breaks out and Morel...

Spring Training Miscellany: Celebrate With a Green Beer, Happ Returns, Assad Solid, Cubs Win

The Cubs won their St. Patrick's Day game over the Rangers 8-6 today, and it's time to tip back a green one in celebration ... About what you'd want to see from Javier Assad today as he continues to stretch...

Chicago Cubs Lineup: Ian Happ is Back!

*SHORT COURTS: It's Time To Bring The Home Court, Home! Looking for a unique way to celebrate your athlete or team before you peruse this Chicago Cubs lineup? Don't miss out! For a limited time only, RECEIVE 10% OFF your...

The Third Cut Includes Mervis, Four Others

(Hear the song in your mind - it still fits!) The Chicago Cubs made their next set of cuts from big league camp today, sending out five players who were generally not expected to make the Opening Day roster. The...

Spring Leaders, Key Injuries, Rays Payroll, Luck of the Irish, and Other Cubs Bullets

A mighty fine St. Patrick's Day to you all. Although I've got a good bit of Irish in my blood, it's never been something I've connected to all that much. You can't really force it, but I kinda want to...

Spring Training Miscellany: Cubs Sweep the Split-Squad Day

It was a split-squad day for the Cubs today, and they won both by a total of two runs. It was 4-3 over the Angels and 8-7 over the Royals. The only teams with a better spring record than the...

Latest News

Canucks vs. Sabres Prediction: Picks, Live Odds and Moneyline – Tuesday, March 19, 2024

The bookmakers fancy the Vancouver Canucks to defeat the Buffalo Sabres in their matchup on Tuesday, March 19, with the Canucks given moneyline odds of -192 at home, and the Sabres at +160.Canucks vs. Sabres Favorite, Moneyline, TotalFavorite: Canucks (-192)Underdog:...

OH MY: ANTHONY EDWARDS JUST HAD THE BEST DUNK OF THE YEAR

Anthony Edwards has done it again. The emerging Minnesota Timberwolves superstar jammed the most impressive poster dunk of the season against the Utah Jazz on Monday night. Pushing the pace in transition during the third quarter, Edwards passed the ball...

De’Aaron Fox Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Grizzlies – Monday, March 18, 2024

To beat his 3-point prop, De'Aaron Fox must make three from beyond the arc on Monday, when his Sacramento Kings face the Memphis Grizzlies, tipping off at 10:00 PM ET.De'Aaron Fox's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the GrizzliesDe'Aaron Fox's over/under for...

Malik Monk Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Grizzlies – Monday, March 18, 2024

Will Malik Monk make three 3-pointers when the Sacramento Kings face the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday at 10:00 PM ET? If so, he'll beat his prop for the game.Malik Monk's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the GrizzliesMalik Monk's over/under for three-pointers...

Bogdan Bogdanovic Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Lakers – Monday, March 18, 2024

At 10:30 PM ET on Monday, it'll be the Atlanta Hawks against the Los Angeles Lakers, with Bogdan Bogdanovic needing three trifectas to beat his 3-pointer prop.Bogdan Bogdanovic's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the LakersBogdan Bogdanovic's over/under for three-pointers in this...

Anthony Davis Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Hawks – Monday, March 18, 2024

The Los Angeles Lakers face the Atlanta Hawks at 10:30 PM ET on Monday, and one of the 3-pointer over/unders available for this clash requires just one make from Anthony Davis.Anthony Davis' Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the HawksAnthony Davis' over/under...

Dejounte Murray Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Lakers – Monday, March 18, 2024

To beat his 3-point over/under, Dejounte Murray must make four from downtown on Monday, when his Atlanta Hawks face the Los Angeles Lakers, tipping off at 10:30 PM ET.Dejounte Murray's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the LakersDejounte Murray's over/under for three-pointers...

D’Angelo Russell Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Hawks – Monday, March 18, 2024

To beat his 3-point over/under, D'Angelo Russell must make three from beyond the arc on Monday, when his Los Angeles Lakers play the Atlanta Hawks, starting at 10:30 PM ET.D'Angelo Russell's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the HawksD'Angelo Russell's over/under for...

LeBron James Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Hawks – Monday, March 18, 2024

To beat his 3-point over/under, LeBron James needs to make three from downtown on Monday, when his Los Angeles Lakers face the Atlanta Hawks on Monday at 10:30 PM ET.LeBron James' Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the HawksLeBron James' over/under for...

Finally, a Team Wanted the Reigning NL Cy Young Winner

The rumors all wound up being true: Blake Snell would take a two-year deal in the $60 million range, the Giants were probably the favorites now, and the pressure was on to get something done. Per Jon Heyman, it two...

more cubs news