It is Jan. 31, around 7:40 P.M. You just got home from practice, maybe you are eating dinner, or doing homework, then, DING. A new notification pops up on your phone. You look at your phone and see it. “Star third baseman, Nolan Arenado traded to the St. Louis Cardinals.”

Nolan Arenado has been one of the best third basemen in baseball while playing for the Colorado Rockies. So far with 235 home runs, 1,206 hits, and a batting average of .293 and many awards to add on to that, it also looks like he has a high chance of getting into the Hall of Fame once he retires. Yet, the Colorado Rockies traded him to the St. Louis Cardinals. 

The full trade package was that the Cardinals receive Nolan Arenado and $50 million. The Rockies receive pitcher Austin Gomber; third baseman, Elehuris Montero; third baseman, Mateo Gil; pitcher, Tony Locey; and pitcher, Jake Sommers. 

To put this into perspective, Nolan Arenado is a once-in-a-lifetime player. He has won eight straight Gold Glove awards, the award for the best third baseman in baseball. He has also been an MVP candidate. In return, the Rockies received only one player in the Major Leagues and four prospects that haven’t played an inning in the Major League. 

The front-office trading of one of the best Rockies players angered fans from around the world. Many fans have called for the firing of General Manager Jeff Bridrich and resignation of Owner Dick Monfort after their decision to trade away Arenado. 

Students reacted with about the same anger. 

“I am currently very angry. Not only did we trade away our best player and our only chance at a ring, but what we got in return sucked. We got five prospects and none which are in St. Louis top ten, let alone top 100 in the MLB and then the fact we paid $50 million. I am just extremely disappointed in the Rockies,” Michael Merkle ‘22 said. “I will say this though, Arenado deserves a ring and if he gets one with the Cardinals, then I will be happy for him, but overall I am very frustrated.”  

“I’m not the biggest baseball fan in the world, but I know trading Arenado was a mistake. From what I’ve seen and heard, we gave him up for nothing, it just seems like a mistake because he is a really good player,” Jenna Levine ‘22 said.

Sophomore English teacher, Andrew Watkins, faces a dilemma of being from St. Louis and living in Colorado. He finds the trade “bittersweet.” 

“This is great for St. Louis but terrible for the Rockies, obviously. I am a St. Louis fan first, but the Rockies are a very very close second. I am most disappointed in the fact that the Rockies got nothing in return, but I do think it was a necessary trade. They needed to free up their money, and Arenado wanted out,” Watkins said. “I like to think though, it’s always darkest before dawn, so even though this is a terrible trade, hopefully it will help the Rockies in the long run.”  

Click here to watch Jeff Bridrich and Dick Monfort’s press conference, where Denver reporters berate them while they explain the trade. 

In the end though, it is going to be a long few years for Rockies fans. Trevor Story’s contract is expiring after this year and Charlie Blackmon is getting up there in age. With not a lot of money for free agency as well, it is time to sit back and watch the rebuild process over the next few years and hope for the best.