Colorado Rockies lock in Charlie Blackmon long term

The Colorado Rockies have extended outfielder Charlie Blackmon for six years, the club announced on Wednesday.

The deal is reportedly worth $108 million which could go up to $116 million with incentives. That’s more than fair for Blackmon’s value.

It also includes two player options and could keep Blackmon in purple through the year 2023. Blackmon won the National League batting title in 2017, came in fifth in MVP voting, and made his second All-Star game appearance. His 103 RBI and 383 total bases out of the leadoff spot are new MLB records.

Blackmon was originally selected by the Rockies in the second round of the 2008 Draft. Now, it looks like there is a decent chance he will be a Colorado Rockie for life.

This move comes as much of the future for this franchise is in question. DJ LeMahieu and Carlos Gonzalez, similar cornerstones of the organization, are still playing on the final year of their deals and, of course, Nolan Arenado is still set to become a free agent after 2019.

It remains to be seen if this is the first of a series of moves meant to keep this core together or whether it means that Blackmon is their guy moving forward no matter what else happens. Charlie made it clear all offseason he was hoping to get a deal done with the team with which he has spent his entire career and there is sure to be jubilation in the clubhouse for the Bearded One this day.

This deal will take him through his age 37 season, should he choose not to exercise either option, which could make him a Rockie for life.