When Nolan Arenado signed his big contract in Denver, he got exit options. So, if he was in trouble, he could use them.
And it was finally when he realized that the Rockies didn’t really want to do everything to win that it served. After all, if the Rockies kept him, he would have walked out of his contract.
His wish to leave was granted and he managed to find a nest in Saint-Louis. For two years now, he has been with a club that aspires to win every year.
Upon picking him up, the Cardinals asked him if he was going to use his release options, and Arenado then said he wanted to establish himself long-term with the Cardinals.
History will have proven him right since now his contract is guaranteed: he can no longer get away with it. He made the choice not to avail himself of the options.
And he regrets nothing.
He could have, without becoming a free agent, negotiated his contract upwards with the Cards, but he obviously wanted to see his club save money to sign other players.
And with $260M over eight years, he’s not exactly to be pitied either.
He is the first to say that he makes enough money and he even claims that he makes more than he deserves. He does not regret his decision because he loves what he is building in Saint-Louis.
He wants to stay there and even though he sees that Machado’s salary makes him look bad, he wouldn’t exactly change his decision. These are his words.
But you know what? I disagree with him.
When he says Machado makes him look bad, I get what he means because the Padres player chipped away at $350M for a 30-year-old, but… Arenado looks like a team guy .
I’m never going to criticize a player who makes money because he deserves what’s happening to him, but I’m also not going to stop pointing out the team gesture of a guy like Arenado.
And since the Cardinals player is one of the best third basemen in history, both offensively and defensively, I don’t think the Cards are upset – quite the contrary.
His situation reminds me of that of Max Scherzer. The Mets pitcher also has an exit option, but she’s not there to make more money: she’s there to protect the guy’s back if his club isn’t good enough for his liking.
Both deserve to fight for a World Series title.
