Blackmon signs long-term deal
The leadoff hitter extraordinaire with the ragged beard and impressive mullet will be patrolling the Colorado Rockies outfield for quite some time.
NL batting champion Charlie Blackmon made a long-term commitment Wednesday rather than test the free-agent market next offseason, agreeing to a contract that guarantees him
$108 million over six seasons.
In January, the twotime All-star center fielder had agreed to a $14 million, one-year deal. The new agreement announced in San Diego, where the Rockies are playing a four-game series with the Padres, calls for a $2 million signing bonus payable within 30 days of the deal’s approval by the commissioner’s office, a $12 million salary this year and $21 million in each of the next three seasons.
Blackmon has player options of $21 million for 2022 and $10 million for 2023, and his 2023 salary can escalate up to $5 million based on plate appearances in 2022: $500,000 each for 400, 425, 450, 475, 500 and 525, and $1 million apiece for 550 and 575.
His 2023 salary would increase by $2 million if he is among the top three in MVP voting from 2018-22 and by $1 million if he finishes fourth or fifth. The 2023 salary is capped at $18 million.
The deal follows an offseason in which many top free agents struggled to find lucrative longterm contracts.
Blackmon is coming off one of the best seasons ever for a leadoff hitter. His 102 RBIS while hitting in the top spot was a major league record, surpassing the mark of 100 set by Darin Erstad of the Angels in 2000. Blackmon’s 383 total bases from the leadoff spot in 2017 also were the most all-time.
The 31-year-old Blackmon has started this season on a torrid pace — hitting .316 with four homers and 16 RBIS. He also made a splendid catch the other day in
San Diego to thwart a big inning.
Cardinals: St. Louis plans to activate righthander Adam Wainwright from the 10-day disabled list on Thursday to start their home opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Wainwright has been sidelined by a strained left hamstring. He has been running and shagging fly balls with the team in Milwaukee, where the Cardinals were wrapping up a three-game series on Wednesday.
The Cardinals optioned Jack Flaherty to Triple-a Memphis to make room for Wainwright. Flaherty allowed one run on six hits in five innings against Milwaukee on Tuesday.
Matheny says the rest of the rotation will be pushed back a day to make room for Wainwright.
Padres: San Diego Padres placed outfielder Wil Myers on the 10-day DL with nerve irritation in his right arm.
To take his roster spot, the Padres recalled righthanded reliever Phil Maton from Triple-a El Paso.
Myers is hitting .250 with one homer and one RBI in three games. He moved back to the outfield this season to make room for Eric Hosmer at first base.