SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — General manager Jeff Bridich attempted to calm the Rockies’ choppy waters Tuesday.
Speaking at Cactus League media day, Bridich addressed the Nolan Arenado situation for the first time since the all-star third baseman made it clear that he was disappointed with the current path of the franchise and said he felt personally “disrespected” by Bridich.
Although some currents of anger and miscommunication certainly remain, and while Bridich declined to go into detail about how he might mend his relationship with Arenado, the GM said it was time to move on.
“(The) really important point is to just move forward into the season and start focusing on baseball,” he said. ” Sometimes there are just natural disagreements and miscommunication over time, and so you continue to work to right the ship.”
Bridich also issued an apology to Rockies fans.
“I’m sorry that our fans, if they’ve been … I’m sorry that it went this way … if it’s caused them angst,” he said. “They’re our best supporters of Nolan. They’re the best supporters of the organization.
“Certainly, you don’t want there to be turmoil or crises or anything like that. Sometimes there are professional disagreements in a business. But, apart from that, we’ve never handled things internally publicly. A lot of that is about out of respect. It’s out of respect to the organization. It’s out of respect to the players in the organization.
“I think it’s appropriate that a lot of inner team business is kept as such. That’s a big reason why I haven’t been out making statements. It’s keeping with that policy, that best practices policy, for us.”
It was less than a year ago that Arenado signed an eight-year, $260 million contract. But then came the Rockies’ 91-loss season, persistent trade rumors and Arenado’s comments about his relationship with Bridich. The GM declined to comment on the situation last week, but he did so Tuesday.
Although sources have said that a trade for Arenado could still happen this season if the Rockies play poorly, Bridich indicated that trade discussions are not part of Colorado’s current agenda. Arenado has an opt-out in his contract after the 2021 season, and indications are that he’ll leave Colorado and become a free agent unless the Rockies become a more competitive team.
“We are focused on the season here,” Bridich said when asked if there was a moratorium on an Arenado trade. “We are focused on the reason we come together every spring training. We are focused on being the best team that we can become. That’s where are at right now.”
Bridich said he and Arenado have not had a face-to-face meeting at spring training yet but said a meeting will probably happen.
“Today was Day 2, yesterday was Day 1 with him in camp,” Bridich said. “We have seen each other, but we haven’t sat down yet. But I trust that we will. Like all of the other players, we will find time to sit down and interact with myself and (manager) Buddy (Black).”
Asked how he will go about repairing his relationship with the seven-time Gold Glove third basemen, Bridich answered: “Just like I was saying, through communication. The players over the last couple of days have been asked similar questions, and I think it just comes down to communicating and just being honest. It’s about moving forward, focusing on the task at hand. We are all here to do the same thing, and that’s to put together a winning team.”
According to Arenado, the relationship between the two men soured this offseason, but Bridich sidestepped that issue — or how their relationship might be repaired.
“Look, I’m not going to (talk about that),” he said. “I am not going to speak publicly about what we would or would not talk about. That will be among us when it happens.”
Arenado, as well as his teammates, have said that the offseason discord won’t affect Arenado’s performance on the field or his tenor in the clubhouse. Bridich agreed with that sentiment.
“You think back to less than a year ago, when we were on the dais, talking about the extension, and all those things that we said publicly in terms of the elite level of talent … the elite-level work, work ethic and his own expectation to play well, to be one of the best players in the game,” Bridich said. “All of that still rings true right now. There’s absolutely no wavering in our mind whatsoever.”
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