Nolan Arenado can’t become a free agent until after the 2019 season, but some are already getting a head start on the hysteria.
The Colorado Rockies third baseman wore a “California Republic” hat to All-Star festivities on Tuesday, leading to a bit of speculation about his future.
Nolan, what are you trying to tell us about your future plans pic.twitter.com/gu7KfXoZhx
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) July 17, 2018
Granted the four-time All-Star is a native of California, having been born and raised in the Orange County area. But that didn’t stop several Twitter users from cracking jokes, spitballing about Arenado signing with their favorite California-based teams, or otherwise overreacting to his choice of fashion.
— Ryan Dunbar (@RyanDunbar_) July 17, 2018
future padre
— (@polyphonique) July 17, 2018
Dodger of course
— NoBudgetKing (@NoBudgetKing) July 17, 2018
Arenado to the Giants confirmed https://t.co/QlH1vxFbD0
— Kyle Robert (@NotoriousKRO) July 17, 2018
That he wants to play next to @bcraw35
— Sean Stevens (@Burritowithguac) July 17, 2018
Areando to warriors confirmed
— Super Saiyan Arthur (@SacRoyalty96) July 17, 2018
Arenado, 27, will be entering his fourth year of arbitration after the season and can then become a free agent the winter after that. As a two-way star who has only made the playoffs once during his entire career with Colorado (losing last year’s NL Wild Card game to Arizona), speculation about his future will surely increase if the Rockies continue to falter in their attempts to contend.
While the hat itself is most likely innocuous, one does have to wonder if the memories of this move that Colorado made still linger for Arenado.
