LEMAHIEU NOT TOO CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING CONTRACT

Second baseman DJ LeMahieu has sparkled while wearing Rockies purple. He has won two Gold Gloves, been selected to two All-Star Games and won the National League batting title in 2016 when he hit .348.

But he is scheduled to become a free agent at the end of this season, and there have been are no indications that the Rockies will offer him a long-term contract.

LeMahieu says he won’t let the uncertainty affect him.

“We haven’t really talked about a contract at all,” he said Thursday upon arrival at Salt River Fields. “I obviously love being a Rockie and I love being here, but we haven’t been talking about it at all.”

He said the situation does not affect how the plays.

“I’m going into this year just like I do every year, ready to compete and ready to win,” he said.

In this, his final year of arbitration, LeMahieu signed an $8.5 million contract. His good friend, center fielder Charlie Blackmon, avoided arbitration by signing a $14 million deal. Blackmon is also scheduled to become a free agent.

Dahl watch.

Outfielder David Dahl, whose 2017 season was wiped out by a injury, is healthy and strong.

“I feel great. Everything is good to go,” he said, adding that he’ll take live batting practice next week when the Rockies’ entire squad begins workouts at Salt River Field.

Last spring, Dahl suffered an injury to a rib during spring training and played in just two Cactus League games before he was shut down. The stress reaction — a shade away from being a stress fracture — caused pain and tenderness in his upper back, near where the rib connects with the spine.

Dahl, who has the athleticism to play anywhere in the outfield, is expected to compete for a starting spot in right field with Gerardo Parra.

Praise for Rusin.

Left-hander Chris Rusin, who led the National League with 85 innings out of the bullpen last season, is able to come into a game and get one or two outs, or work as a long reliever. In the latter role, Rusin was terrific last season, posting a 1.26 ERA and a .223 batting average against when he pitched two or more innings.

“Reliever (like Rusin) are few and far between,” manager Bud Black said. “When you have one, it’s really, really nice. What makes it special is that (Rusin) has the ability to do it — pitch multiple innings, have length in his game, but also has the capability to come in and have the focus to get one hitter out in the specialty role of left-on-left, and be resilient enough to be available often.

“Probably most important, he (embraces) that role. ‘Whatever it takes, I’m fine.’ ”