Arenado discusses extension, Gold Gloves

In a recent sitdown with MLB.com, third baseman Nolan Arenado discussed a wide range of topics, from his love for Rockies and catching up to Brooks Robinson in Gold Glove Awards.

MLB.com: You decided to stay with the Rockies by signing an eight-year, $260 million extension. You are a superstar, could have been a free agent after this season, could have gone anywhere. Why did you stay?

Nolan Arenado: I was thinking about it, praying about it and just kind of figuring out what I wanted to do. I had time to reflect and think about it. I’m comfortable here. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side. That does not mean I’m not going to play somewhere else in the future. You never know what could happen in the game. Right now, I felt comfortable staying here.

MLB.com: What is it about Colorado that you love?

Arenado: I think it was the fact that when you are with the team and they’re losing and you are part of the turnaround, it’s a pretty good feeling. Not many people can say that. I can say I was part of it when it was pretty bad. Now I’m part of it when we are making pretty good strides of being really good.

MLB.com: How good are the Rockies? How far can they go?

Arenado: I think we are a really good team. I think we have a lot of young players we are relying on to get the job done. They are really doing a good job for us. We are a very solid group, solid players. I believe we can do something special again. It’s just a matter of taking care of business. I feel we have the right guys to do that.

MLB.com: When you agreed to the extension, you and your parents were emotional. How did that make you feel when witnessed the moment?

Arenado: The thing I was happy about was that my mom doesn’t have to work anymore. Little things like that. My parents worked hard to produce for me. They gave me the opportunities I have now. They grind their butts off for me and my brothers. I always appreciated that. They can enjoy life. If they want to take a trip, I’m more than happy to help them out with it. When you are younger, you see your parents grinding. Now it's nice to see them relaxed, chill. They don’t have to stress about a lot of things anymore.

MLB.com: I understand your father came from Cuba. Not only did his work pay off for him, it paid off for you, too.

Arenado: My dad is a grinder. He still is. He still likes to work. He still likes to be active. He doesn’t like to sit around and hang out. That’s just his personality. It’s the way he was raised. That’s how he got around. He knew he had to grind through. I got that from my dad because of what he has done. When he came over, he knew he had to work hard. He knew he had to find a way on his own. I have a lot of respect for what he did.

MLB.com: I understand you and your father went to Cuba. How was that trip like? How did he feel about it?

Arenado: Our whole family went. … He is not a huge fan of what’s going on over there. He was kind of iffy about going over there. I loved the trip. They are truly amazing, amazing people. It was kind of weird being on vacation, knowing that people are struggling. It was a vacation in the beginning and then it turned into a reality check. … Some of them are suffering. That part hurts. You just realize how fortunate we are to be born in America, have freedom of speech, freedom to do what ever we want, freedom to travel. Those little things became a reality check for us.

MLB.com: Let’s talk baseball. You make so many acrobatic plays. How do you do it?

Arenado: I work on a lot of these plays, a lot of the jump throws.

MLB.com: Do you really?

Arenado: Yeah, I do. During the offseason -- batting practice sometimes, too -- I work on these jump throws and I work on these different things you see me make in the game. I try to have my instincts take over and try to be comfortable doing whatever. There are some plays that are really hard in this game, sometimes awkward. I feel like I prepare for them. I feel like I have a chance to make a play on a tough throw or on a diving play. I feel like I have a chance because of other things I’ve worked on.

MLB.com: Did you ever think you would be this good?

Arenado: I never thought I could win a Gold Glove. I never though about a Gold Glove until after I won it my first year. When I first won it, I couldn’t believe it. Then I realize I never wanted to give it up. I’ve been fortunate enough to win it the last six years. I don’t want to give it up now.

MLB.com: You come from El Toro High School in Lake Forest, Calif. Who is better between you and your former high school teammate, Matt Chapman?

Arenado: That’s a tough one, man. He is so talented. He can get to so many balls. I feel like he definitely has a stronger arm than me. It seems like the plays he makes are with less effort because his arm is so strong. He lobs it in there and it goes on a line. I feel like I have to make a good jump throw. I feel like I can get to the same balls he can. There’s just a little more effort on my part.

MLB.com: What position did you and Chapman play in high school?

Arenado: I played short and he was my backup shortstop. When I got benched for throwing my helmet or if I got in trouble or if I was pitching, he would play short. … I played against Chapman in Little League and then from Little League to travel ball to high school. I’ve been around him forever. It’s cool to see him have success in the American League. It’s a crazy experience -- both of us winning the Gold Glove last year and we came from the same high school. There’s not too many people who can say that.

MLB.com: Let me ask you this: Who is better between you and Brooks Robinson?

Arenado: Brooks is the GOAT. I can’t sit here and say I’m better than him. He has 16 Gold Gloves and I have six. I have 10 to go. I don’t know if I'll get 10 [more] because that’s a long time. He’s the greatest to ever do it. I pay my respects to him. When it’s all said and done, whoever wants to speak on that, they can. I still think he is the GOAT.

MLB.com: I understand you still play Wiffle Ball with your brothers and cousins. Why do you still play that game?

Arenado: We love it. It’s competition. I love to trash talk. You know how it is. You want to be on top. You want to be better than your brothers and cousins. It’s just a hobby. It’s what we do. It’s what we kind of grew up doing. We can’t help it. We love to do it.