Rockies Flip-Flopping on Nolan Arenado One Year After Massive Contract Would Be Embarrassing

The Colorado Rockies finally had their homegrown superstar locked up long term, as superstar third baseman Nolan Arenado inked a eight-year, $260 million contract extension that will keep him in Colorado until at least 2026.

At least, it will if the team decides to let it.

That plan could be totally scrapped after just one season, as teams like the Texas Rangers have reportedly inquired about a potential Arenado trade, who seems ever more available with each passing day. What happened?

Rockies GM Jeff Bridich has done a nice job assembling talent and keeping said talent in Colorado, but trading Arenado is a good way to torpedo both his reputation and the reputation of the team.

Arenado isn't just some really good player you flip elsewhere for prospects. He's a game-changing corner infielder who averages 80 extra base hits, 36 home runs, and 115 RBI over 162 games.

He's also the best defensive player in all of baseball, as his seven Gold Gloves and three Platinum Gloves will speak to. No amount of prospects you get back for him is going to equal Arenado's value at the big league level, and, once again...the job is done here! He's locked up! Why this? Why now? And if it's Arenado waffling, how could this not have been sorted last winter, when the Yankees were barking Colorado's direction about filling their vacancy with the Rockies star rather than Manny Machado?

You know, when he didn't have these dollars attached.

The Rockies are stuck in a tough NL West that also includes the Dodgers and Padres, but that doesn't mean tearing everything down and trading Arenado is by any means the best course of action.

What type of signal is that to a Players Association that already craves security?