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SCOTTSDALE, Arizona – The man may soon be making the history of baseball, going where no player has ever gone before.
He is one of the greatest baseball players and may be the first to win at least $ 35 million per season.
No, we are not talking about a former ex-soldier of the Washington Nationals.
We are talking about Nolan Arenado, four-time Gold Glove Trophy winner four times and six times at the Colorado Rockies, who led them to consecutive playoff appearances for the first time in franchise history.
Arenado, 27, just 16 months older than Bryce Harper, has been offered a contract extension that will earn him $ 245 million over seven years until 2025. Two people informed of the discussions said at USA TODAY Sports that anonymity was guaranteed by the ongoing negotiations.
According to this proposal, the Rockies will tear up this year's contract, which will pay $ 26 million to Arenado and replace it with the $ 245 million contract that would pay the third player a record annual salary of $ 35 million, wiping out thus the record of 31 million dollars of Miguel Cabrera. per year for a position player.
Nolan Arenado signed a $ 26 million deal this season with the Rockies. (Photo11: Chen Chenoy, USA TODAY Sports)
The final agreement may also include an option of acquisition or a team option for an eighth year.
Once finalized, the contract could keep him with the Rockies for the rest of his career, where Arenado would like to stay.
"It's a great place," said Arenado in the United States, TODAY Sports. "I really appreciate the fact that we are comfortable here. You know the coaches. You know the players. Some of my best friends are part of this team.
"I grew up here in this organization, so I feel like home. I have been here since the tide has changed and it is a very good feeling. I was part of this change.
"You want to win in a place where you have been all your life."
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Colorado, you're at the stopwatch.
Arenado, who finished in the top five of the majority vote for three consecutive years, is not only the face of the Rockies, but one of the biggest stars in baseball. There's a reason the New York Yankees, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Chicago White Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies would like nothing more than talks to break with the Rockies, which would give them the opportunity to steal it next winter.
"Listen, I think these places are beautiful," says Arenado, "but the grass is not always greener on the other side for some people, I'm not saying it would not be for me. great to play in a big market.
"But at the same time, I'm doing what's best for me. I am not one to look for the biggest deal of the game. It's not me. I want to be where I am comfortable.
"And I'm comfortable, man, I'm comfortable. I will not complain about being comfortable. "
In addition, although he is the greatest player in the National League and one of four players in history to have won three home homeruns and won four gold gloves in four years, nothing does not guarantee that teams will be lined up at their doorstep. when he hits the free agency.
Arenado saw what happened this winter. He sees Harper still sitting in the free agent market. Former Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel, who are seven times closer to the Star, have also moved closer.
"There are so many good players out there," said Arenado. "It's crazy to think they're still there. But honestly, I would not make the decision I saw. I rely on what I think is right.
"If the Rockies come with something nice, I'll take it. Otherwise, I am not afraid to enter the free agent market. I do not really do it.
Certainly, there is no red flag indicating that an agreement will not be reached with the Rockies. Dick Monfort, President and CEO of the Rockies, is confident that he will develop a long-term extension after Arenao has agreed to a record $ 26 million contract in his last year of arbitration at the start of the year. month.
The beauty of these negotiations is that both parties are transparent, leading to calm, respectful and calm discussions.
"That's why I have a lot of respect for them," says Arenado. "No one plays any game. That's why I'm ready to stay because of the way they communicated so well with me. It's really good that the discussions went smoothly. "
And now that the Rockies are winning, Arenado really has nothing to complain about. He loves the city, where he owns a condo in downtown Denver. He loves passionate fans. Coors Field is perhaps no longer the hitter's paradise in Cincinnati or Philadelphia now that they sort baseballs into a cigar humidor, but it will not deny that it's a place fabulous to hit. He has a batting average of .320 and an impressive .984 percentage at the base plus slugging at Coors Field.
So, he asks, even if he's not famous for playing in New York or Los Angeles, and the contract is right, why would the world want to leave. It's no different than Mike Trout who wants to stay with the Los Angeles Angels.
It could be the modern day George Brett, which was written and signed by the Kansas City Royals and never left.
Black Rock coach Bud Black, a former Brett teammate in Kansas City, remembers daily comparisons. Two students from Southern California, written and signed by mid-market organizations, make up the top third of the game. We went to the Hall of Fame. The other is headed there.
"There are so many similarities," Black said. "I talk to George all the time about Nolan. George watches his games. He is so impressed by the way Nolan plays, especially in defense.
"When I played with George, he always thought that he wanted to stay royal forever, and he wanted that to happen. My hope would be for Nolan to be a Rockie forever. There is something special about it. I think Nolan does it too. "
Arenado could become the first player in history to sign a deal exceeding $ 225 million and staying with the same team.
"It would be really cool," said Arenado, "to be one of those guys who stays with an organization all their career. This no longer happens. I would like to change that.
"Dude, that would be really special."
Follow Nightengale on Twitter @Bnightengale
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