Arenado 'not afraid' of 2019 free agency despite slow market
Nolan Arenado isn't scared of potentially testing free agency following the 2019 campaign.
The Colorado Rockies star third baseman believes players earn the right to test the open market and isn't worried about the lack of movement this offseason.
"I'm not afraid of it at all," Arenado told The Associated Press. "It doesn't have an effect on me. I think free agency is something you earn.
"You've been in the big leagues this long, you get there and you earn it. I don't know how it is going to work out; I can't speak on that. But you definitely earn it."
The 27-year-old will become a free agent after this season following a record-setting one-year, $26-million contract he signed with Colorado at the end of January to avoid arbitration. The two sides don't have a deadline set for a new deal and the four-time All-Star is trying not to let it bother him.
"I think it always worries you, but at the same time I have bigger things to worry about," Arenado said. "I'm trying to do my job at a high level and that's it. Everything else can take care of itself."
On the heels of Manny Machado's 10-year, $300-million megadeal with the San Diego Padres, a comparable is now set for Arenado.
The Rockies are confident a long-term deal can be reached as owner Dick Monfort said, "We're to the crescendo" earlier this month and "I'm comfortable that we can get a number that we can get to" following a meeting between the two.
Arenado is a six-time Gold Glove Award winner with a career slash line of .291/.346/.539 over six seasons with the Rockies.