SCOTTSDALE — The news conference to officially announce the mega-deal cementing ‘s rise to the top of the baseball universe was scheduled here for Wednesday at 9:30 a.m., but when he learned of the time, the third baseman’s initial concern was whether he’d make it for batting practice at 10:30.
And so it goes for Arenado, Colorado’s baseball-obsessed all-star who — in the wake of signing an eight-year, $260 million contract with Colorado on Tuesday — is excited to completely focus his energy on the Rockies’ World Series aspirations.
“I love this group, and that’s why I committed here,” an emotional Arenado said. “I’m comfortable here and it feels right with this young group we have. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side, and I really believe we can win. I wouldn’t make this decision if I didn’t believe that.
“I’m here for the long haul.”
The announcement of Arenado’s record-setting deal — he will make an average annual salary of $32.5 million, a new high for a position player — puts an exclamation point on what was previously a quiet offseason for Colorado, whose lone major league signing was first baseman Daniel Murphy.
Arenado’s deal includes an opt-out clause after three seasons, which would enable the third baseman to become a free agent after 2021. Arenado said the clause “is good for both sides.”
“It’s a huge commitment on both sides, and so it’s a natural appraisal situation sort of mid-contract,” general manager said. “We can continue to communicate where we’re at and we can honestly evaluate where he’s at three years from now.”
Speculation about a long-term deal for Arenado began to pick up earlier this month, when fans’ hopes heightened when owner Dick Monfort acknowledged the front office was “optimistic that we are close enough that something will come about.”
The quiet, months-long negotiations spurring Monfort’s optimism began to truly take root in early December, and by the time Arenado reported to spring training, a deal was close.
“Things really got going right around the winter meetings, and then from there it was about working diligently, week-by-week, from that period,” Bridich said. “Just a few days ago, we were finally able to say, ‘Okay, we have an agreement.'”
Both Arenado and Bridich said a stagnant market for a second consecutive offseason — and the prolonged free agencies of Manny Machado and (still) Bryce Harper — didn’t factor into the timing of the deal.
“I wasn’t afraid of free agency, and I didn’t base my decision off (the market),” Arenado said. “I see what’s going on and it’s disappointing, but at the end of the day, my heart was here.”
Manager Bud Black, signed to a three-year extension through the 2022 season earlier this week, said he communicated with the six-time Gold Glove winner throughout the process but that ultimately he could only “keep fingers crossed” that Arenado would sign a long-term deal.
And now that he has, the message the signing sends into the baseball ether is clear: Watch out Dodgers, Red Sox and Yankees, and all big-market, big-spending teams in between. Colorado is doubling down on its postseason dreams.
“The message this sends to our players, to our fans, and nationally is huge,” Black said. “It says a lot about this organization’s serious commitment to winning in October.”
With Arenado locked in, and outfielders Charlie Blackmon and Ian Desmond also on multi-year deals, Colorado can now turn its fiscal attention toward its next batch of up-and-coming stars. Shortstop Trevor Story will be a free-agent in 2022, and rotation linchpins Kyle Freeland and German Marquez go on the market the year after that.
And, as Monfort hinted at, Colorado’s spending could continue to climb. currently ranks
“Last year we had great attendance and it was a great revenue year,” Monfort said. “If we can continue that — and as Jeff has said the course for manageable growth — then we’ll try to keep all the players we possibly can.”
“I never quarrel with a man who buys ink by the barrel,” former Indiana Rep. Charles Brownson said of the press. But we need your help to keep up with the rising cost of ink.
.
