It was a rare good day on the field for the Colorado Rockies, as they defeated the San Francisco Giants 9-2 in the afternoon. It was also productive off the field. Late Wednesday night, the team announced a two-year, $25 million contract extension with left-hander Jorge De La Rosa, which will keep him in Denver through 2016.
The 33-year-old left-hander was eligible for free agency at the end of the season and was likely to draw significant interest if he made it to the open market. After not trading him in July, the Rockies were expected to extend a one-year qualifying offer, which Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal believes will be around $15 million.
Colorado was criticized in some circles for hanging on to De La Rosa at a time when rebuilding should be a priority, but both sides obviously wanted to continue working together. That would seem to be especially true on De La Rosa's side, as he potentially gives up a year or two and some money in the extension. It's reported there's no options for 2017.
It's also worth noting that De La Rosa is one of the few pitchers who has thrived at Coors Field, posting 44 wins there since 2008.
That obviously played a big role in both sides continuing the relationship.
Still, you can't help but wonder if the Colorado's front office and ownership realize its roster needs an overhaul. De La Rosa gives them something close to an ace, which makes him valuable and worth keeping around, but this seems like a signing a team playing in a championship window would make. Not a team that doesn't figure to factor into postseason contention through the duration of the deal.
Perhaps the thought (or hope) is that a full season from Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez will make the difference. But that has to happen before we'll know, and even if they are healthy in 2015, there's no guarantee Colorado can contend with little proven pitching depth beyond De La Rosa.
Remember, Jhoulys Chacin is likely lost for 2015 following shoulder surgery, and lefty Brett Anderson hasn't been a picture of health either. It could be De La Rosa and full youth movement, including No. 3 pick in 2013 Jonathan Gray, which doesn't seem like a recipe for immediate success in that ballpark or division.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at bigleaguestew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
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