Ryan McMahon and the Colorado Rockies have agreed to a six-year deal worth $70 million.
The 27-year-old made strides defensively in 2021 by being named a finalist at third base for the Rawlings Gold Glove Award. He also recorded his second consecutive full-season reaching the 20 home run and 80 RBI mark.
“I’m really excited to be in Denver for the next six years,” McMahon said at the Rockies’ Spring Training site at Salt River Fields. “The organization means a lot to me. These are people I’ve grown up with since I was 18. Adding Kris Bryant and the direction, the buzz around the clubhouse for where we’re headed, is a really good thing. Those all drove me to do this.”
Originally drafted by Colorado in the 2nd round of the 2013 MLB Draft out Mater Dei (CA) High School, RyMac made his big league debut in 2017 before becoming more of a contributor on the 2018 club that reached the playoff for the second straight year.
McMahon had previously been scheduled to go to arbitration for the second time and become a free agent following the 2023 season. With this deal, the Rockies will buy out four years of free agency, so long as McMahon doesn’t use one of his two earned opt-outs.
According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, McMahon will receive $5 million in 2022, $9 million in 2023, $12 million in 2024-25 and $16 million in 2026-27.
Should McMahon finish in the top five of National League MVP voting in any of the next three years, he’ll receive an opt-out clause following the 2025 season, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network. If he’s in the top five of the NL MVP in 2025, then he’ll earn an opt-out following the 2026 season, Feinsand reports.
The extension for McMahon has been part of a massive investment in the roster this offseason. New GM Bill Schmidt has committed $344.9 million in contracts for his club over the last six months.
“We want to lay the foundation of who’s moving forward with us,” Schmidt said of the active offseason. “We don’t have all we need yet, but we have quality pieces. Let’s tie them up and move forward”
Before the lockout, there were extensions for Antonio Senzatela, C.J. Cron and Elias Díaz, plus a free agent pact to bring back Jhoulys Chacín. In the last twelve days since the lockout ended, several more have been added via free agency: José Iglesias, Alex Colomé, Chad Kuhl and Kris Bryant.
Colorado opens the regular season on April 8 at Coors Field against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
