Rockies Sending Nolan Arenado to Cardinals

The Colorado Rockies have agreed to trade third baseman Nolan Arenado to the St. Louis Cardinals for a package of players.

There have been rumors floating around for the past few months, but the deal was finally announced on Friday night.

This trade will not be official until sometime next week as it will need to be approved by several different groups, including the Players Association. Colorado was looking to shed some payroll, and Arenado was looking to finally play for a World Series title contender.

Arenado has six years and close to $200 million remaining on his contract, and the Rockies will be sending $50 million to the Cardinals as part of this deal. The third baseman also has an opt-out in his contract after the 2021 season, and that will remain as part of this deal.

The new deal is expected to include an extra year on the contract and will also give Arenado another opt-out option following the 2022 season. Arenado will continue having a full no-trade clause in the contract, and he must be willing to waive that clause in order to complete the trade to the Cardinals.

Colorado will be receiving a package of lower-level prospects that is centered around pitcher Austin Gomber. Gomber is a 27-year-old left-hander who spent time in the starting rotation and the bullpen last season for the Cardinals.

The Rockies were looking to trade Arenado after he became frustrated with the way the organization was attempting to build around him. Arenado has spent his entire career with the Rockies, and it has been a Hall of Fame-worthy career up to this point.

Arenado has won a Gold Glove Award in all eight seasons that he has played in the National League and is also a five-time All-Star. He has been the face of the franchise, but that title will now belong to shortstop Trevor Story.

The Cardinals are now the clear favorite to win the National League Central Division, and Arenado will join a loaded infield. First baseman Paul Goldschmidt is one of the best in baseball at that position.

Murphy Retiring From MLB

On Friday night, Daniel Murphy announced that he was retiring from Major League Baseball after a productive career. The final two years of his career were spent in Colorado with the Rockies, but he became a free agent after the team declined a $6 million option for the 2021 season.

During his time with the Rockies, Murphy struggled to put up above-average offensive numbers. In 172 games with the Rockies, Murphy batted .269 with 16 home runs and 94 runs batted in.

The Rockies signed Murphy prior to the 2018 season after he had thrived with the New York Mets, Washington Nationals, and Chicago Cubs. In 2015, Murphy was named MVP of the National League Championship Series for the Mets.

Murphy initially discussed the possibility of retiring during the 2020 season, but he made the decision official this week after he was not pursued by another team.

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