Colorado Rockies continue to extend their homegrown talent

Jeff Passan of ESPN is reporting that the Colorado Rockies and Kyle Freeland have agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension.

Reportedly, it is a five-year deal for $64.5 million with a player option for a sixth year. With the deal, Freeland will be under contract with the Rockies until at least 2026.

The Colorado Rockies have extended left-handed starting pitcher Kyle Freeland to a five-year deal.

One of the top priorities for the Colorado Rockies this offseason has been locking up their homegrown talent and some of their best players in recent years and extending Kyle Freeland continues that trend.

The Rockies extended C.J. Cron to a two-year deal (that he was elated to sign) at the beginning of the offseason and since, they extended catcher Elias Díaz to a three-year deal, starting pitcher Antonio Senzatela to a five-year deal (with a team option for a sixth), and infielder Ryan McMahon during spring training to a six-year deal.

Two weeks ago, we looked at three players that the Rockies should extend next and Freeland was at the top of the list.

He was slated to go to arbitration in late May with the team but the deal will negate the trip to arbitration. He was going to make roughly $7 million in arbitration so this deal will get him more long-term.

He was in his second year of arbitration and was going to be a free agent after the 2023 season so the deal will cover at least three years of free agency and, potentially, four years if he exercises his option.

In 2022, Freeland has struggled as he has an 0-2 record with an ERA of 10.00 (4.99 FIP) in two starts but he is hoping to turn his fortunes around tonight against the Philadelphia Phillies.

In 2020 and 2021, he has had a 4.33 ERA (112 ERA+) with a 4.64 FIP, a 1.416 WHIP, and an average of 2.9 walks, and 7.1 strikeouts per nine innings.

The Denver native from Thomas Jefferson High School had his best season in 2018 when he had a 2.85 ERA (166 ERA+) and came in 4th in NL Cy Young Award voting, which was a huge boost for the Rockies, who went to Game 163 in the NL West against the Dodgers and made it to the NLDS.

We will have more on Rox Pile as the story develops.

UPDATE (2:36 PM M.T.): The Colorado Rockies have announced the deal.