SCOTTSDALE, AZ — Rockies All-Star 3rd baseman Nolan Arenado is already in Scottsdale for spring training. Taking batting practice and ground balls. And talking too.
Arenado was interviewed by Thomas Harding of MLB.com and the Rockies website on Thursday. The Rockies best player talked at-length about his contract situation and the state of the negotiations on a long-term deal. Here are some of the best quotes from that interview:
"My agent is taking care of that, but it's been very, very honest, very clean, very easy, very respectful on both sides," Arenado said. "The Rockies have been great about it. But if it gets done, if it doesn't get done, it doesn't mean it's over, essentially. People think just because things get done before games start, it's over. That's not how things work.
"Charlie signed the deal in the season, so anything can happen. But it's been super respectful on both sides. It's been great. They've treated me right for a while now, and they've always treated me right."
"It's not in the way of what I'm trying to get done, either," Arenado said. "I've got more important things to worry about, which is trying to hit a baseball, fielding ground balls and making the throws and staying healthy. They're the things I'm focused on this year. They're way more important."
"I'm not going to sit here and say there is a deadline," Arenado said. "As a collective group between me, my agent and the Rockies, I think we're going to have a quiet deadline. There's a time and place to focus on ball. They have a job to do, too. They're trying to help us win games, also. I think they're more worried on helping us win games than trying to get this contract done at a certain time.
"When serious games start, there'll probably be a silent deadline. I'm not sure. But at the end of the day, I'm open to anything. It's been fine. There's no hard feelings. We can talk whenever."
Rockies pitchers and catchers are working out now at Salt River Fields. The full squad is due to officially report on February 17. Watch Denver7 Sports every day at 6pm and 10pm for the latest from Rockies spring training.
