The Colorado Rockies certainly have a number of questions surrounding their future with the impending free agency decision of shortstop Trevor Story. Though they are likely to be losing Story, the MLB franchise made a move on Wednesday that will certainly soften that blow a little bit.
Reports have come out that the Rockies are signing former Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants star Kris Bryant to a massive seven-year, $182 million contract that will keep the slugger in Colorado through the 2028 MLB season.
Bryant is obviously an extremely talented player, but many around the MLB world are questioning this massive contract considering the team paid for a large portion of former star third baseman Nolan Arenado’s contract to send him off to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Nolan Arenado has five years, $164 million guaranteed remaining on his contract he signed with Colorado, some of which #Rockies are still paying.
— Derrick Goold (@dgoold) March 16, 2022
Will be nice to see the Rockies with a legit 3rd Baseman. About time for that organization. Finally. https://t.co/7SAidbNDeG
— Sam Dekker (@dekker) March 16, 2022
I am absolutely stunned. Hats off to Boras. He found another sucker. #waittosee https://t.co/zzrSzDTHRr
— David P. Samson (@DavidPSamson) March 16, 2022
BREADED UP CHICKEN TIDDIES!
💰🐔
Nobody is curious as to why. The man got his ring in Chicago & now he’s got the bag. Aside from that I’m not sure there are many reasons why Colorado would be a destination. He ain’t spending all 7 years in Colorado. KB just tapped the Rockies. https://t.co/aXIAaaYbaL— Dallas Braden (@DALLASBRADEN209) March 16, 2022
The Rockies rationalizing their past year https://t.co/Vp6JtMnfvD pic.twitter.com/fuffNazk1t
— Jason Foster (@ByJasonFoster) March 16, 2022
Bryant had what most consider to be a down year in 2021, splitting time between the Cubs and Giants and hitting 25 home runs and 73 RBIs with a .265 batting average and .353 on-base percentage. Those numbers will certainly increase in the hitters’ paradise that is Coors Field, but it is still a perplexing move on the surface considering how they didn’t want to pay Story to stay with the organization.
This trade could see a return of Bryant’s MVP-type numbers that he put up in 2016 when he won the award. But still, it seems a little strange that the organization would give Bryant this kind of money given their reluctance to pay players in the past.
For reference, this contract is by far the biggest that the organization has ever given out to a free agent, with the second biggest being a full $61 million less in 2000 to pitcher Mike Hampton.
Kris Bryant's $182 million deal with the #Rockies is the highest ever given to a free agent by the organization.
Previous high was $121 million for LHP Mike Hampton in Dec 2000.
— Patrick Lyons (@PatrickDLyons) March 16, 2022
It could pay off for the team given Bryant’s talent, but they are still looking at a pretty weak roster outside of the former MVP. If the fit doesn’t work out this could certainly be a contract that the team looks back at in disgust for years to come.
