Mark Knudson’s Three Strikes Blog: Strike One
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Mannyball? Nolan Arenado is still in a class by himself
STRIKE ONE: The moment it was announced that Manny Machado had signed a record-breaking $300 million deal with the National League West rival San Diego Padres, the comparisons with the Rockies Nolan Arenado began again.
Last season, with Machado playing shortstop for the Dodgers and heading for free agency, those comparisons dwindled a bit. Both guys had good, not great seasons.
Then the off season began. First, Nolan got a record-setting deal of his own, a $26 million one year deal that amounted to the highest arbitration settlement in history (the deal avoid an actual arbitration hearing.) When Machado ‘sfree agent deal hit – and it was announced he’d be moving back to third base in San Diego – the comparisons and projections ramped up once again, and they’re bound to continue all season.
Both are four-time All-Stars, but the numbers and the eyeballs tell us that Arenado is the better player. Six Gold Gloves in six seasons for the Rockies star beats the two Gold Gloves won by Machado while he was with Baltimore. Nolan’s also won four Silver Slugger Awards, three NL home run titles and a pair of RBI crowns. Machado comes up empty in those categories.
Still, Machado’s deal will have an almost immediate impact on both the Rockies and their superstar third baseman.
First, Nolan is in line for a new contract himself, with this being the only year of his new deal with the Rockies. It’s expected he will sign a long term deal with Colorado – probably not the 10 year deal that Machado received, but presumably at or very near the same yearly dollar amount of $30 million per.
What will that do to the Rockies finances long term? That’s a question both the club and the player need to figure out. Arenado doesn’t seem to have the ego driven need to be the games highest paid player the way Machado and (still) free agent Bryce Harper seem do. He’s always been more about winning than individual stats (and dollar value.) Rockies fans should hope Nolan has a little Tom Brady in him – a willingness to accept a little less money in order to help the team acquire and retain talent around him.
Don’t be shocked if Arenado’s deal is for around seven or eight years at around $28 million per. He could probably get by on that, don’t ya think?
The Rockies would be a little better off if they could save a couple million for the day that Trevor Story, Kyle Freeland and David Dahl are finally due big paydays.
More on the immediate front, how much does Machado improve the Rockies division rival? Could what was shaping up as a two-horse race in the NL West between the Rockies and Dodgers have another entry?
Don’t count on that just yet. First, if Machado (who LA didn’t try to re-sign) couldn’t lift the talent-laden Dodgers to greater heights – remember, LA won a single game play-off with the Rockies last October, meaning the actual, real on-the-field difference between the two teams sits at one game – then he’s not the missing piece for a Padres squad still short on quality pitching and long on long-term prospects. The Padres are likely still a couple of seasons away.
Which is probably just fine with Machado, whose post-season antics last season soured a lot of people on his value as a good teammate. He can start living the good life in SoCal and wait for the rest of the roster to catch up. The Padres will sell a lot more tickets this season, which seems to be the biggest objective in this deal anyway.
Meanwhile, Nolan and the Rockies will work to overcome the Machado-less Dodgers and get back to the play-offs.
Wanna argue? Hit me up on Twitter @MarkKnudson41. Coming Wednesday: The Broncos drafting dilemma.
