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Keeler: Will Nolan Arenado be the straw that breaks Jeff Bridich’s back?

Here’s the thing: It’s not that they’re cheap. Cheap throws up its hands and walks away from Nolan Arenado last winter. Cheap doesn’t pop a $260-million contract into one of No. 28’s hands while slipping a pen in the other.

A glance at Spotrac.com says the Rockies are dragging MLB’s 10th-highest payroll into Christmas, and the sixth-highest in the National League ($148.3 million). The league average payroll, as of Saturday afternoon, was $121.5 million. This isn’t about cheap.

It’s about dumb.

Arenado is reportedly on the block — to Texas, to the Yankees, to Westeros, to anywhere — because Year 1 of Daniel Murphy was a $12-million investment at first base with twice as many Coors Field errors (seven) as Coors home runs (three).