Jeff Bridich talks about Greg Holland's incentives which could reach $35 million

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According to a report from the Associated Press, the Colorado Rockies deal with Greg Holland contains a conditional option for a second year and incentives that could push the contract up to $35 million.

The report breaks down a litany of various incentives including bonuses for innings pitched, games finished, and even winning Comeback Player of the Year.

Before these details emerged, BSN Denver asked GM Jeff Bridich about the incentives in the first year of the deal that could take the deal from $7 million to $14 million. “It was finding that common ground. What’s the baseline salary? If he is the closer for a full year, what is that worth? And if he’s not, what is that worth? And we’ve addressed both scenarios in the contract. I think this sort of deal allows for the recognition that he is coming off of Tommy John … but also if, and we really believe when, he does return to the type of pitcher that he has been, to reward him for that.”

These new details further drive that point home.

Holland can exercise a $15 million if he reaches 50 appearances and 30 games finished in 2017. If he does both of those things, it will be good both for him and the Rockies. Like Bridich said, this deal is almost perfectly structured to make sure that if Holland never returns to form, the Rockies ultimately liability is covered. But if he returns to being one of the best closers in baseball, he gets paid accordingly.

It’s well known around all professional sports to expect big things from a guy in a “contract year.” Well, Holland is now essentially perpetually in a contract game every time out. To steal once again from Aaron Sorkin, that’s a lot of incentive … I’d try my hardest.