Blockbuster Nolan Arenado trade proposal for Giants, Rockies

Nolan is Nolan

The biggest reason why the Giants should feel comfortable with the Arenado swap is the fact that he is a 100% known commodity.

The Giants would confidently know what they’re getting with him, and that’s a durable player who is a Gold Glove defender at third base and an impact player offensive.

He is the comparison for up and coming third basemen.

Comparing rising prospects to MLB stars remains an inexact science and reality is usually somewhere between the lowest and the highest expectations. But when it comes to Arenado, there is no “he’s the next Matt Chapman” type comparison to be made.

He is Nolan Arenado.

On the other hand, Heliot Ramos is not a known commodity.

In reality, he’s only seen 95 at-bats above Double-A. Remember Mac Williamson? He was going to be a bona fide slugger for years to come until it all fell apart at the Double-A and Triple-A levels and he flamed out in the big leagues.

It’s not his fault. Injuries derailed what was once a promising path. But if injuries could do that for him, they could just as easily do it for Ramos. The same could be said for a number of Giants prospects over the past decade.

Sure, Heliot Ramos could be a superstar, or even a Hall of Fame player. He could be the next Mike Trout. But that’s not a guaranteed reality, nor a realistic expectation.

With Arenado, that “could” is not part of the equation. He “is” a perennial Gold Glove winner, an elite offensive producer and a five-time All-Star.

The Giants haven’t had that dude on the team since Buster Posey was in his prime.