The Colorado Rockies have been locking in pieces for their next run of contention. While Kris Bryant received plenty of headlines, the Rockies have also extended Antonio Senzatela and C.J. Cron. Although Cron received just a two year deal, it showed a proactive approach that had occasionally been lacking.
That proactive approach continued on Monday. The Rockies signed infielder Ryan McMahon to a six year extension worth $70 million, locking up another piece of their core.
Colorado Rockies take calculated gamble on Ryan McMahon
McMahon had a decent season overall in 2021. He produced a .254/.331/.449 batting line in his 596 plate appearances, hitting 23 homers and 32 doubles. However, he did not have close to the same power in the second half of the season, with a .252/.349/.416 batting line, hitting seven homers and 16 doubles, in his 261 plate appearances.
Those numbers could easily improve in the coming years. He posted a 24.7% strikeout rate in 2021, easily the best of his career, while drawing a walk in 9.9% of his plate appearances. McMahon was also better at putting the ball in the air while using the entire field, allowing him to tap into his power potential even more.
The Rockies are paying for McMahon’s potential with the bat, but his glove makes him extremely valuable. He saved a major league leading 22 runs in 2021 between second and third, providing Gold Glove caliber defense at both positions.
Extending McMahon also continues a recent trend for the Rockies. They have begun to value defensive versatility more, allowing them to find the best players for the roster without having to force them into a position they may not fit in. Both McMahon and Bryant are cable of moving around the diamond, something that will be beneficial in the next few years as they look to improve the roster even more.
The Colorado Rockies have made another smart move by extending Ryan McMahon. The pieces of a contending team could be coming together.