Before getting into details, I have to be honest and post a disclaimer.
While the Kübler-Ross model of five stages of grief may be considered outdated and overgeneralized in the psychology world, I believe it to be a fitting model for where I am at in the wake of the Rockies trading away one of the best third basemen in the history of the game — and sent money — for peanut shells. Step one: denial. That’s how I felt over the last year of trade rumors, how I felt when the Cardinals deal “wasn’t close,” how I felt before it was finalized and I thought the MLB might step in to prevent the swindling to which the Rockies were consenting.