Betting on Blackmon
Rockies and center fielder agree to six-year, $108 million contract
SAN DIEGO » The Rockies are putting their faith in Charles Cobb Blackmon, the wildbearded, 31-year-old who has forged himself into one of baseball’s most impactful players.
The club on Wednesday announced it had signed the two-time all-star center fielder to a six-year contract worth $108 million. It includes two player options, which could keep him with the Rockies through the 2023 season. Negotiations began in February.
“There are so many things to like,” Blackmon said, explaining why he chose to sign with the Rockies now rather than test the free agent market after this season. “I really like the people in the organization. I love my teammates. You can’t pick a better place to play. It’s a beautiful place. And the fan base itself is just super welcoming. It’s a really great group of people.”
And then, of course, there is the money, but don’t expect Blackmon to splurge and replace
his beat-up, 2004 Jeep Cherokee Laredo anytime soon.
“I’m going to get some new tires,” he said.
The contract guarantees Blackmon $108 million through 2023 with potential incentives worth $8 million more, according to a major-league source. The contract includes two player opt-out clauses, in 2022 and 2023. The deal kicks in immediately, effectively replacing his 2018 contract. He will make $14 million this season, then $21 million per year through 2022 and then $10 million in 2023, according to the source.
For general manager Jeff Bridich, the deal was made with the belief that Blackmon has a lot of quality baseball left.
“There were a lot of different reasons we did this,” Bridich said. “The first, he’s one of the elite players in the game now. He’s certainly one of the elite players in the division and in the National League. Another fairly obvious reason is that we know him so well. It’s a great story to tell. It goes all the way back to scouting and then signing, drafting and developing Charlie.”
A second-round draft choice out of Georgia Tech in 2008, Blackmon battled his way up to the Rockies by 2011, but then he fractured his right foot that summer. He didn’t become a full-time Rockies outfielder until the second half of the 2013 season. He became an all-star in 2014.
Bridich said the Rockies invested in Blackmon because of his talent and professionalism.
“It’s the way he’s gone about his business, the pro that he is, the true professional that he is and his constant search for excellence,” Bridich said. “It’s about his conviction, his self-control, his discipline, and his ability to put everything he’s got into his profession.”
Blackmon won the National League batting title last season with a .331 average and finished fifth in MVP voting. He hit 37 home runs and drove in 104 runs. His 103 RBIs and 383 total bases from the leadoff spot were both big-league records.
He turns 32 on July 31, and Bridich admitted that age was a consideration in whether to hand out the huge contract.
“We trust that he is going to continue to do what he is doing and what he has done,” Bridich said. “Is there risk involved? Sure. But there is risk involved any time you do a long-term contract, no matter what age it starts and ends.”
Now that Blackmon is in the fold, the Rockies face another major contract decision in the near future. Five-time Gold Glove third baseman Nolan Arenado is scheduled to become a free agent after the 2019 season and is expected to command a salary possibly approaching $300 million, depending on its length. Bridich said signing Blackmon has no bearing on possible negotiations with Arenado.
Blackmon said he and Arenado have talked, a little bit, about a possible future together in Colorado.
“I didn’t tell a whole lot of people. I did not want to create distractions,” Blackmon said. “I did speak to Nolan a little bit in spring training about his future, and how that relates to my future, and I would love for those futures to be together.
“I think he’s a very important part of this team. I would love to see Nolan around for a long time. But we didn’t specifically talk about ‘Hey, what if I do this, you do that?’ We didn’t play that game.”
The Rockies chose to make Blackmon’s contract announcement on the road, without a lot of hoopla. The two sides came to an agreement at the end of spring training.
“It finally got to the point that Charlie was ready to do this and he wanted a little bit more of a subdued announcement,” Bridich said. “That was more fitting with his style and what he was comfortable with.”
Blackmon was glad to have the negotiations complete before the regular season started so that he could concentrate on baseball. The plan seems to have worked. His four home runs through four games are tied for the most in the National League, and he’s batting .316 with a team-high six RBIs.
“It was actually not very relaxing leading up to the beginning of the season because there was something of a deadline there,” Blackmon said. “But now with this out of the way, yes, I’m relaxed. To be honest, I’m just trying to play baseball, focus on the baseball part. I’ve been able to do a pretty good job of that, I think.”
Blackmon added that a big factor to signing the long-term deal was the faith the Rockies will be a competitive team going forward.
“I want to be on a good team, and I think I am on a good team,” he said. “Had we not been a good team, or not had the foundation in which I felt like we could be successful in the future, I don’t think I would have chosen to stay here in Colorado, as much as I like it.
“Or at least it would have been a very tough decision. But I think we have what it takes to be good for years to come.”