SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Rockies general manager Bill Schmidt has a vision for the team he wants to build and owner Dick Monfort has given him the money to construct it.
Monday, three days after signing free agent Kris Bryant to a seven-year, $182 million contract that shocked baseball, the Rockies signed third baseman Ryan McMahon to a six-year, $70 million contract extension.
“I thought the timing was right,” Schmidt said. “We’re trying to lay the foundation of who’s moving forward with us. We looked at Ryan as being a part (of that) and I’m excited for him and his family, but also the ballclub.
“We don’t have all we need yet, but we have quality pieces. Let’s tie them up and move forward.”
Under Schmidt, Colorado has committed $352.7 million to extend players’ deals, sign free agents, and award contracts to arbitration-eligible players since the end of last season.
Left-hander Kyle Freeland could be the next on Schmidt’s must-sign list. The Denver native is scheduled to become a free agent after the 2023 season. Schmidt, however, declined to comment on the club’s possible plans to sign Freeland to a long-term deal.
Schmidt, who headed the Rockies scouting department since 1999 before becoming the interim GM last April and then taking over in October, has been busy.
While the Rockies lost star shortstop Trevor Story and right-handed starter Jon Gray to free agency, Colorado brokered long-term deals to right-hander Antonio Senzatela (five years, $55 million) and catcher Elias Diaz (three years, $14 million), and also re-signed first baseman C.J. Cron for two years ($14.5 million) before he hit the free-agent market.
Additionally, three players whom Schmidt signed to one-year contracts are expected to be major contributors this season: right-hander Alex Colome ( $4.1 million), who’s a potential closer; shortstop Jose Iglesias ($5 million), who replaces Story; and right-hander Chad Kuhl ($3 million), who’s expected to be the No. 5 starter.
In addition, Colorado worked out contracts with right-handed relievers Daniel Bard ($4.1 million) and Tyler Kinley ($1.025) to avoid arbitration.
McMahon, 27, emerged as one of baseball’s best defensive third baseman last season. He was, obviously, in an upbeat mood Monday.
“I love being with this organization,” he said. “This is something you work for your whole career. And I’m really excited about this club’s future. I know (I sound) kind of level-toned about this, but inside I’m jumping for joy right now.”
The deal takes care of the last two years of McMahon’s arbitration eligibility and gives him four more years with Colorado, through the 2027 season. The Rockies approached McMahon at the end of last season about an extension and negotiations picked up steam after the lockout ended.
McMahon said that although the possibility of a contract extension hung over him, the lockout gave him time to think about his baseball future with the Rockies.
“So the (lockout) was really a blessing in disguise,” he said.
McMahon slashed .254/.331/.449 with 23 home runs last season. He hit eight home runs in April but then his power production waned. McMahon shined on defense and was named a Gold Glove finalist for the first time in his career.
Still, he wants to be more productive at the plate.
“You saw what I did the first couple of months, and then I fell off a little bit,” McMahon said. “For me, it’s about taking the next step and that means more consistency.”
Rockies manager Bud Black has no doubt that McMahon has more to give.
“With ‘Mac,’ what he did the first six weeks or seven weeks is what we want to see for the whole year,” Black said. “There are still some peaks and valleys for him, there is still some streakiness. Ryan needs to have the lows not so low and the highs to be a little higher. He’s very capable of that.”
McMahon was drafted in the second round in 2013 out of Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, Calif. He made his MLB debut in 2017 and provided the Rockies with infield versatility, manning first, second and third. Last season, after Nolan Arenado was traded to St. Louis, McMahon took over as the primary third baseman.
