Colorado Rockies: How much will it take to keep Charlie Blackmon?

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Charlie Blackmon of the Colorado Rockies /

On Friday morning, it was reported that Charlie Blackmon and the Colorado Rockies had avoided arbitration by reaching an agreement on a one-year, $14 million contract. Not long after that, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reached out to Blackmon and asked if he was interested in staying in Colorado for the long-term. Of course, Blackmon is.

But that will not come without a hefty price tag for the Rockies. With Blackmon secured for the 2018 campaign and his time as an unrestricted free agent coming up after the 2018 season concludes, it’s truly time to start thinking about if the Rockies want to lock him up on a long-term contract or let him test the waters of free agency.

How much might it take to keep Blackmon with the Rockies? Let’s take a look.

Now at a $14 million salary for next season, the 31-year-old two-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger is the sixth-highest-paid center fielder in Major League Baseball. For the 2018 season, here are the center fielders making more than Blackmon, according to Spotrac.com.

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Mike Trout — $34,083,333

Yoenis Cespedes – $29,000,000

Jacoby Ellsbury — $21,142,857

Adam Jones — $17,333,333

Dexter Fowler — $16,500,000

As a reference point, Denard Span is the seventh-highest-paid outfielder at $11 million this season.

As the defending National League batting champion and after a historic season from the leadoff spot, Blackmon’s value has likely never been higher than it is right now. It’s also likely no coincidence that, with a potential big payday coming, Blackmon changed agents in late November. The move may have already paid slight dividends as Chuck Nazty’s $14 million this season is actually a touch higher than projections ($13.4 million) expected.

Certainly the Rockies will not pay Blackmon anywhere near what Trout is making. However, it’s very likely that he will be asking for a range that puts him in the top three or four in the category.

Blackmon will turn 32 on July 1 and roaming the vast expanses of Coors Field from the center field position is no easy task. Can the Rockies afford to pay a big payday to keep a player in center field who is well loved by the fans and keeps producing, but is also getting older? That is the main question facing Colorado general manager Jeff Bridich right now.

Additionally, the Rockies are also facing contract negotiations with All-Star second baseman DJ LeMahieu (who becomes an unrestricted free agent after the 2018 season) and All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado (who becomes an unrestricted free agent after the 2019 season). Paying Blackmon a large contract could well have a ripple effect when it comes to negotiating with these two younger players (LeMahieu will be 29 when the season begins while Arenado will be 26 and truly entering the prime of his career).

If the Rockies choose to throw a long-term contract toward Blackmon, it will likely need to be in the neighborhood of $20 million per season. Using this thought process, a three-year contract worth $60 million is logical and would keep Blackmon with the Rockies through the 2021 season when he would turn 35.

Next: Did the Rockies jump over the Diamondbacks with their offseason moves?

There is a lot at play when it comes to Blackmon’s future in Colorado. There is no question he is worth the big contract. However, it would set off a ripple effect that could be felt for years to come.

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