It’s been 14 months since the Rockies shipped away a star third baseman on a nine-figure contract. On Wednesday, they acquired another one in an apparent attempt to avoid the mistakes of the past.
Colorado’s reported seven-year, $182 million deal to sign Kris Bryant is, at best, a puzzling one. The Rockies’ trade of Nolan Arenado just over a year ago had nearly everything to do with cutting salary, even though they sent $50 million to St. Louis to make the deal go through. Rather than take the money saved on Arenado’s deal and spread it around the roster more efficiently, Colorado has decided to go all-in on another star—one who’s older than Arenado was when he was traded and whose contract will now run a year longer than the one the team was so desperate to rid itself of last January.
The Rockies’ offseason moves, to this point, have done little to suggest they’ll be a contender in 2022. The team has brought in shortstop José Iglesias, seemingly ending any chance of a reunion with Trevor Story. Also in the fold are pitchers Jhoulys Chacin, Alex Colomé and Chad Kuhl, all on one-year deals.
