Rockies Extend Carlos Gonzalez

It is time for a story closer to home. On Sunday, the Colorado Rockies and outfielder Carlos Gonzalez agreed to terms on a contract extension believed to be worth $80 million over seven years. A physical will take place next Monday and an official announcement is expected on Tuesday.

"Everything is almost done. Just physicals pending. I am very happy with this agreement," Gonzalez told National TV.

The Rockies have a history of locking up players to loaded extensions. Todd Helton signed a nine year, $141.5 million deal in 2001 that officially started in 2003. While Helton had MVP-caliber seasons from 2000 to 2004 and was a lock for 40 home runs and a .330 batting average, he lost his ability to consistently hit for power and average starting in 2005.

The Rockies extended Helton again this past spring for two years and $9.9 million. This was done to get Helton to agree to defer $13 million of his $19.1 million 2011 salary over a ten year period starting in 2014.

"It does take some pressure off me being labeled as the guy making that much money at 38 years old," Helton told the Associated Press.

Troy Tulowitzki signed a six-year, $31 million deal after his 2007 rookie season. He responded with a disappointing 2008 season, but bounced back with impressive seasons in 2009 and 2010. He finished fifth in the MVP voting in both years and won his first Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards in 2010.

The Rockies proceeded to give him a six-year, $119 million extension in November. Tulowitzki was under team control through 2013, with a team option for 2014 that will be picked up as part of the extension, so it is puzzling why the Rockies would give him an extension with four more years left on his contract.

The Gonzalez deal is less risky than the other extensions, but still could be a problem. Gonzalez was under team control through 2014, with a best-case scenario of him making around $20 million total during those four years. He will now average $11 million a season with his new contract.

Gonzalez has only played two seasons worth of games in his career, a very small sample size. If Gonzalez continues his 2010 performance, the Rockies will get a bargain. He will only be 32 years old at the end of the contract, so there is reason to be optimistic. But if he declines, the Rockies will have given out another premature contract extension.