After the Colorado Rockies traded third baseman Nolan Arenado to the St. Louis Cardinals, the two sides seemingly broke apart. Arenado left the Rockies not long after their strong seasons in the late 2010s, and he forced his way out, leaving a bitter taste in the mouth of Rockies fans and himself.
However, in a recent article from Andy McCullough of The Athletic, Arenado revealed he still had lingering feelings for those within the Rockies organization.
"I know this is Major League Baseball and nobody really feels bad," Arenado said. "But I do have a soft spot for people there because I know them."
Arenado spent eight full seasons with the Rockies, though 2020 was shortened due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. That amount of time spent with one organization typically leads to some attachment. Arenado, despite the rough breakup, still has a soft spot for the Rockies.
After leaving the Rockies in 2021, Arenado has thrived with the Cardinals. He's amassed an impressive resume, batting .267 with a .786 OPS and a 116 OPS+ across five seasons. Arenado has totaled 17.5 WAR from 2021 to 2025, and with his current season pace, he's on track to surpass 18 total WAR.
Throughout his future Hall of Fame career, Arenado has won 10 Gold Glove awards, six Platinum Glove awards, five Silver Sluggers, and has been named to eight All-Star teams.
He started his incredible career in Colorado, so it's no surprise he still has a soft spot for the Rockies. Amid the Rockies' historically awful start to the year, Arenado feels bad for those left in the organization.