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Kansas City Royals missed opportunity to acquire Nolan Arenado

By Cullen Jekel

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 22: Nolan Arenado #28 of the Colorado Rockies hits a sacrifice fly ball to score Trevor Story #27 from third base against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium on August 22, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 22: Nolan Arenado #28 of the Colorado Rockies hits a sacrifice fly ball to score Trevor Story #27 from third base against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium on August 22, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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Mandatory Credit: Peter Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Peter Aiken-USA TODAY Sports /

Nolan Arenado wanted out of Denver. He’d grown unhappy with the Rockies’ management after he signed his long-term deal. The team slumped and didn’t do much to bust out of it. If he could land with a winning club, he’d waive his no-trade clause.

In Kansas City, the Royals have been building something. The team loaded up on pitching prospects through several drafts while also landing shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 draft.

Plus, the team has solid players already in the Majors like shortstop Aldaberto Mondesi, Swiss army knife Whit Merrifield, a captain behind the plate in Perez, a slugger in Soler, a promising hitter in Hunter Dozier, a staff ace in Brad Keller, plus a slew of other solid pitchers.

Then, this offseason, while most teams sat back and blamed the pandemic, the Royals signed or traded for several recognizable names: first baseman/DH Carlos Santana; left-handed pitcher Mike Minor; outfielder Michael Taylor; and Benintendi.

This is a franchise that became intoxicated with winning between 2014-2016. It wants to get back to that. The organization has great fans that came out in droves when the team started winning back in ’14 and have kept on showing up.

Perhaps the biggest factor has to do with a player no longer with the team, though. When Alex Gordon retired, the Royals lost the face of the franchise. As much as any outside player would’ve been able to replace Gordon, it would’ve been Arenado.

Take a look at this potential lineup with Arenado included:

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  1. Merrifield (2B)
  2. Benintendi (LF)
  3. Arenado (3B)
  4. Santana (1B)
  5. Soler (DH)
  6. Perez (C)
  7. Dozier (RF)
  8. Mondesi (SS)
  9. Taylor (CF)

Hubba hubba hubba.

Arenado’s prime motivation was joining a winning ballclub. The Royals’ motivation was building a winning ballclub.

Both acted. It remains to be seen whether a) the Cardinals win the NL Central/make the playoffs and b) whether the Royals get back to winning.

But the matching motivations were there. The compensation package wasn’t onerous. The price, while high, wasn’t that high. The Royals need a new face of the franchise. Arenado is now the future of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Next. 5 Royals With Most to Prove at Spring Training. dark

It’s a shame that the Kansas City Royals didn’t seize the golden opportunity to acquire Nolan Arenado.

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