The Colorado Rockies create a new contract for All-Star slugger Charlie Blackmon with a long-term deal, securing their future in the process.
For those of you NL West teams, not the Colorado Rockies, you best be shaking in your cleats, after Charlie Blackmon extended his stay in the Rocky Mountain state — inking him to a new contract in the process.
For the Rockies faithful, this news should excite you, even though Blackmon is now in his early thirties.
Do the Rockies realize Charlie Blackmon is 32 years old?
— Saint Lou (@SweetSaintLou) April 4, 2018
Yes, we do realize his age. Thanks, Sweet Lou for the reminder. Charlie Blackmon is just getting started folks, so don’t let the age fool you — with this new deal worth every single penny.
All-Star. Silver Slugger. Batting Champion. Leader. Rockie.
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) April 4, 2018
We have agreed to terms with Charlie Blackmon on a six-year contract, including two player options, which could keep him with the club through the 2023 season. pic.twitter.com/OYq6ruJhQR
Ken Rosenthal confirms that this is not a contract extension, but a new-deal altogether.
Correction to this: Blackmon deal is a new contract, not an extension. Includes previously negotiated $12M salary for 2018. https://t.co/D36EqIerRG
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) April 4, 2018
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Blackmon’s new deal is complicated, but we’ll do our best in explaining the intricacies of it — thanks to Bob Nightengale’s sources.
- 2018: $12 million with $2 million bonus
- 2019: $21 million
- 2020: $21 million
- 2021: $21 million
- 2022: Player-option for $21 million
- 2023: 10 million dollar player-option — which would increase by $8 million if he Blackmon finishes in the top three of the NL MVP voting, with 400 plate appearances the previous season (2022).
All in all, what this means is that Charlie Blackmon is that he’s getting paid, ya’ll. More than that, the Colorado Rockies cement themselves as perennial contenders in the National West and all of MLB for the next five-plus seasons.
At this point, it’s unknown what this means for Nolan Arenado, who is set for arbitration in 2019 and becomes an unrestricted MLB free agent in 2020. The mega cash the Colorado Rockies forked out for Blackmon should make Arenado smile, who is likely to get paid and stay in Denver, also.
Now, back to Blackmon. His past two-plus seasons rival that of any MLB player, with last year truly one for the stars.
- Slash line: .331/.399/ .601
- NL batting champion
- NL Silver slugger recepient
- 213 hits
- 137 runs scored
- 104 RBI
- 37 HR
- 14 triples
- 725 plate appearances
Keep in mind this production is hitting (primarily) in the leadoff position. Sick. Flat out ridiculous numbers, Coors Field-induced or not.
More than just a stellar player, he’s a fan favorite among Colorado Rockies fans; with this youngster embodying how the entire fanbase feels.
Blackmon showed that he indeed gets it, arranging a meeting with the young fan in person.
Impressive, most impressive.
Next: Rockies: Top 10 Rookie-Eligible Prospects for 2018
It’s moments such as these that prove the Colorado Rockies are the one getting a bargain in this new deal (his numbers aren’t too shabby either). The Rockies now have arguably the best overall player in the National League inked up for the rest of his prime, putting themselves in position to annually compete for an NL West title in the process.