Colorado Rockies, Nolan Arenado finalizing contract extension

According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Colorado Rockies and third baseman Nolan Arenado are finalizing a contract extension that would potentially keep him in Denver for a very long time.

Jeff Passan of ESPN is reporting that the Colorado Rockies and Nolan Arenado are finalizing a contract extension for 8 years and $260 million, or an average annual value just over $32 million. This deal would give Arenado the largest contract (based on average annual value) in MLB history. The deal also includes an opt-out clause after 3 seasons, which would be Arenado’s age-30 season.

BREAKING: Third baseman Nolan Arenado and the Colorado Rockies are finalizing an eight-year, contract extension worth more than $255M, league sources tell ESPN. Deal includes an opt-out after three years, would give Arenado the largest per-year salary of any position player.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 26, 2019

Passan notes that if the full length of the contract is fulfilled, the deal will run through 2026. Also, the 8th year on the deal and the record-breaking average annual value on the salary was how the deal got done.

Nolan Arenado’s deal with the Colorado Rockies will run through 2026, though the opt-out clause after the third season would allow him to hit free agency at 30 years old, sources tell ESPN. The eighth year and record-breaking AAV offered by the Rockies got this deal done.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 26, 2019

He also reports that the deal has a full no-trade clause.

Nolan Arenado’s deal includes a full no-trade clause, league sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 26, 2019

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that the deal will override his 2019 contract so, essentially, it is a seven year extension after this season. He also notes that it is a deal for $260 million, unlike Passan, who originally reported $255 million.

Deal would cover 2019 to ‘26. Technically a new contract, not an extension. Overrides one-year, $26M deal for this year. https://t.co/gHUX4mXtMo
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 26, 2019

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If the deal does get confirmed, it will be a huge coup for the Rockies and their fans as they will be able to keep their franchise player for, potentially, the bulk of his career.

A lot of people, including myself, were skeptical of a deal getting done considering the amount of money that the Rockies have invested in free agents and other contract extensions, including Charlie Blackmon, Ian Desmond, Wade Davis, Jake McGee, Bryan Shaw, and Mike Dunn. Combined, those five players have contracts well north of $200 million.

However, as our own Jake Shapiro noted in this article in December, the Rockies are going to get a new TV contract after the 2020 season and how a new deal could help pay for Arenado. As it looks right now, you would have to believe that this is part of the reason why a deal has come together.

But right now, it is time to enjoy one of the best talents in this generation staying in a Rockies uniform for the foreseeable future.

According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Colorado Rockies and third baseman Nolan Arenado are finalizing a contract extension that would potentially keep him in Denver for a very long time.

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