Rockies give shortstop seven-year extension
Colorado Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar agreed to a seven-year contract extension Tuesday that runs through the 2030 season with a club option for 2031.
MLB.com reported it’s worth $63.5 million through 2030 and $84 million if the option is exercised.
“We are excited to be able to secure Ezequiel’s future in Denver with this extension,” general manager Bill Schmidt said.
“He has already proven he is one of the best shortstops in baseball, and we see him as a cornerstone of this franchise for years to come.”
Tovar, 22, batted .253 with 37 doubles, 15 homers and 73 RBI in 153 games last season. He became the youngest Opening Day starter in franchise history in 2023.
He was named a National League Gold Glove Award finalist last season.
ELSEWHERE
Blue Jays: Righthanded closer Jordan Romano is likely to start the season on the injured list with an elbow issue. Romano, 30, made five appearances this spring and allowed one run on two hits in 41⁄3 innings. He finished 5-7 with a 2.90 ERA and tied his career high with 36 saves in 59 appearances last season. Fellow reliever Erik Swanson is dealing with a forearm injury, leaving Yimi Garcia and Chad Green as candidates for closing duties. Toronto opens the season Thursday at Tampa Bay.
Brewers: Center fielder Garrett Mitchell, 25, who is expected to play quite a bit this season, has a hand fracture and will begin the season on the injured list. The 20th overall pick out of UCLA in the 2020 draft, Mitchell has been plagued by injuries. He played only 19 games last season after shoulder surgery. Sal Frelick, 23, is expected to move to the outfield from third base to fill some of Mitchell’s responsibilities.
Cardinals: Center fielder Dylan Carlson
will miss the start of the season with a shoulder injury. He sustained a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder during an outfield collision Monday and is headed to the 10-day injured list. The Cardinals added outfielder prospect Victor Scott II to the roster ahead of Thursday’s opener against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. Carlson, 25, had been on track to start Opening Day with Tommy Edman
already sidelined by a wrist injury. Carlson batted .271 this spring and led the Cardinals with three homers and 13 RBI.
Diamondbacks: Righty closer Paul Sewald, whose acquisition from Seattle at the trade deadline last season helped spur Arizona to the World Series, will open the season on the injured list with a strained left oblique. He could miss six to eight weeks. With Arizona last season, Sewald had an ERA of 3.57 ERA withi 13 saves in 15 chances. Arizona could now turn to right-hander
Kevin Ginkel, who with right-hander Ryan Thompson was a key set-up reliever last season.
Yankees: Third baseman DJ LeMahieu will miss the start of the season with a bone bruise in his right foot. Leahieu, 35, is batting .222 with one double and three RBI in 10 games in spring training. LeMahieu batted a career-worst .243 with 15 homers and 44 RBI in 136 games with the Yankees last season. New York opens the regular season Thursday at Houston. A three-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner, LeMahieu is a career .292 hitter with 122 homers and 625 RBI in 1,561 games with the Chicago Cubs (2011), Rockies (2012-18) and Yankees . ... Right fielder Oscar Gonzalez was taken to a hospital after sustaining a right eye contusion during a Monday exhibition game against the Diablos Rojos in Mexico City. Gonzalez took a swing and fouled a ball into his face in the top of the second. Manager Aaron Boone announced earlier Monday that Gonzalez, 26, was reassigned to the minors. He spent last season with Cleveland, hitting .214 with two home runs and 12 RBI.
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