Rockies Mailbag: How does baseball’s uncertain calendar affect Nolan Arenado’s future in LoDo?
Denver Post sports writer Patrick Saunders with the latest installment of his Rockies Mailbag.
Pose a Rockies — or MLB — related question for the Rockies Mailbag.
Say, for instance, Major League Baseball returns sometime in July. How do you think they will handle the trade deadline? Or say, for instance, MLB doesn’t return at all this year. Do you think Nolan Arenado will still be in purple next season?
— Curtis, Denver
Curtis, all trades are frozen right now and that will remain the case until baseball returns and players report back to their teams. Of course, there is a chance baseball won’t return at all.
If, as you suppose, the season were to begin in July, MLB and the MLB Players Union would have to negotiate a new trade deadline. Right now, however, there is no way to target when that might be.
If, for example, the World Series were to extend into November, there also would be looming questions about the free-agency calendar, the Rule 5 draft and perhaps even 2021 spring training. There is so much up in the air right now.
As for Arenado, all I know is that he will be credited with a full season of service time for 2020, meaning he will be one step closer to a potential opt-out after the 2021 season. Given the strange times we’re in, it’s difficult to speculate about Arenado’s future with the Rockies. My best guess is that he will begin the 2021 season in Rockies purple.
Baseball this season in Arizona sounds like a hot nightmare for the players. What would be the problem with running a shortened TV-only season from teams’ own ballparks? Yeah, that adds the risk of travel but don’t all teams charter their own planes anyway?
— Jeff Karpinski, Elizabeth
Jeff, that’s a good question.
Yes, major-league teams, including the Rockies, charter their own planes, but there is so much more involved in the logistics of putting on a game. We’re not talking only about players, managers, coaches and staff on a major-league team. We’re also talking about umpires, TV crews and all of the others behind the scenes. MLB doesn’t want all of those people flying on their own and then mingling at various ballparks.
Then, of course, there is the prospect of testing all of those people on a regular basis for COVID-19.
MLB believes all of that would be handled better in a few locations.
The idea of playing games under the hot Arizona sun is a real problem, which is why many games would be played in domed ballparks (such as Phoenix’s Chase Field) with the possibility of multiple games being played on the same day.
As I pointed out in my story in Tuesday’s Post, there are currently three reported models for an abbreviated 2020 season:
• The “Arizona plan” would house all 30 teams in the Phoenix area, where players and staff would stay at hotels, face a strict quarantine and travel only to ballparks to play games.
• The “Cactus League and Grapefruit League” plan, in which the 15 teams that hold spring training in Arizona would form one league, with the 15 teams that hold spring training in Florida forming the other league.
• The “Tri-State” plan, with leagues in Florida, Arizona and Texas. According to a report from CBS Sports, 10 teams would be stationed in each state. Clubs would play games at major- and minor-league ballparks, as well as some spring training facilities. In this scenario, the Rockies would be included in the Texas League.
With all the players on their own for workouts now, does any group benefit more (hitters, pitchers, fielders)? Do some have a hitting machine, or some type of cage to hit or throw? Centerfield or Glory Days? Thanks.
— Robert Emmerling, Parker
I think it depends more on the individual than on the position. For instance, Arenado has his own baseball “warehouse” in Southern California that enables Arenado, along with his brother, Jonah, and cousin, Josh Fuentes, to hit from the cage and go through extensive fielding drills.
Pitchers Kyle Freeland and Scott Oberg both have portable mounds at their homes, so that enables them to work on their own “bullpens.”
The point is, the players all have their own routines right now.
As for your second question, you know that I’m a huge Bruce Springsteen fan, but “Glory Days” is not one of my favorite songs. I think John Fogerty’s “Centerfield” is a better baseball song.
Patrick, wanted to see what is going on with Rockies season ticket holders like myself. I’m wanting to know if we will be refunded any money for games not played. Thanks.
— Julie, Denver
Julie, that situation remains in a state of flux, but there is movement. On Tuesday, Major League Baseball announced that it is allowing teams to offer refunds to fans for games currently not being played because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Up until Tuesday’s announcement, major-league games were considered postponed — instead of canceled – which allowed teams to hold on to revenue generated from ticket sales. Now, with no chance of a full 162-game season, MLB will allow refunds.
It should be noted that MLB is not requiring teams to issue refunds, and each team will set its own policy. Teams can announce their new policies beginning Wednesday. We’ll be checking in with the Rockies.
There are reports that teams will offer credits for the 2021 season as one option.
Patrick, the breakdown on the three general managers the Rockies have had was a depressing read. It shows me the team is OK with being a below-average ball club in most years. We love our baseball here in Denver and want a consistent winner. Do you think we will ever see that here in town?
— Bill, Aurora
Bill, as I noted in my Sunday story, playing baseball at a mile above sea level presents challenges unlike any other in the majors. That’s not an excuse, it’s a reality.
Having said that, Rockies fans deserve a better on-field product. At some point, I think a GM will find the right formula of decent pitching and a dynamic offense that makes Coors Field a house of horrors for opposing teams.
I can see a team being good for four or five years running, but given that the Rockies are a mid-market team (financially) and that free-agent pitchers are loathe to come to Colorado, I don’t think the Rockies will even win seven consecutive division titles as the Dodgers have done.
Starting May 1, MLB teams can start laying off or cutting salaries of major and minor league coaches, trainers, as well as their scouts. What have the Rockies decided to do in this department? Would hope they take care of the MiLB teams in their system.
— Troy, Longmont
Troy, the situation is ever-changing, but the Rockies are one of 18 major-league teams that have informed baseball operations employees that they will receive paychecks through May. After that, we will see.
As for the future of minor-league teams, that’s difficult to forecast. It does appear, however, that the coronavirus pandemic will hit the minors hard and eliminate teams and jobs.
Here is part of a “Baseball America” story that was published last week:
“When Major League Baseball proposed to Minor League Baseball last year its plan to cut the minor leagues from 160 teams to 120 affiliated teams in negotiations for a new Professional Baseball Agreement, such a proposal was greeted by many MiLB teams as unthinkable. The world has changed dramatically over the past six months, especially now that the coronavirus pandemic has halted sports. When MLB and MiLB negotiators convene on a teleconference on Wednesday, multiple sources with knowledge of the negotiations say MiLB will indicate that it agrees to 120 affiliated teams in a new PBA. Such a concession by MiLB could be a clear step toward a deal. MiLB has now agreed to find ways to come to agreement on almost all of MLB’s public demands. Now the open question is whether MLB will be willing to accept the concession as a foundation for a potential deal.”
Denver Post sports writer Patrick Saunders with the latest installment of his Rockies Mailbag.
Pose a Rockies — or MLB — related question for the Rockies Mailbag.