The Brave had some conversations with the Rockies over Nolan Arenado before the Cardinals competed in the star’s third man, reports The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal (registration required). Rosenthal also sheds some light on one of last season’s intriguing rumors, the talks between the Rockies and Cubs on a trade in which both Arenado and Kris Bryant. Jason Heyward was also part of the negotiations at one point, as the Cubs sought payroll for Arenado’s contract, although the Rockies were not interested in adding money after the 2021 season (which is the end of Bryant’s current contract). and when Arenado was able to practice his opt-out clause).
As Rosenthal noted, the Cubs can finally look back on the talks as ‘what’ may have been ‘,’ as they will now regularly face Arenado in the NL Central. From Colorado’s perspective, such a trade might not have been a clear victory if a Rockies-bound Bryant had suffered a similar series of injuries that hampered him in the actual 2020 season, but it still has better reviews as St. Louis. “Competitive drivers remain amazed at the deal,” Rosenthal wrote, as the Rox found themselves inexplicably in an unsavory situation with their best player.
More from the NL-West …
- Also from Rosenthal, the Diamondbacks has some interest in Eduardo Escobar but the team currently does not appear to be much. If a trade takes place at all, it may not even come closer to the deadline if the Snakes are not eligible, as Arizona Escobar wants to give the chance to rebuild a good trade value. Escobar struggled last season to clinch a .212 / .270 / .335 streak over 222 record appearances, a key step down from its very good performance in 2018-19. Escobar, which was signed in October 2018 with a three-year extension, also plans to hit the free agency next winter, and he has all the more incentive for a return year.
- Brandon Belt underwent a hook operation in October, and the Giants gave no specific timeline about when the first baseman could be back in action. President of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi sheds a little more light on the subject when he spoke to reporters (including Alex Pavlovic from NBC Sports Bay Area) this week and said Belt was ”not a certainty“And only”a possibilityTo play on the opening day. On the plus side, Zaidi said the team is happy with Belt’s rehabilitation so far, and more will be known if they look at Belt during spring training. Belt is going to have a huge year for San Francisco, although the team would be able to cope in the event of a relatively short absence for Belt, due to the number of players on the roster with the first base experience – Wilmer Flores, Austin Slater, Darin Ruf, regular catcher Buster Posey, and new addition Tommy La Stella.