Headlines

  • Braves Designate Craig Kimbrel For Assignment
  • Corbin Burnes To Undergo Tommy John Surgery
  • Braves Select Craig Kimbrel
  • Jerry Reinsdorf, Justin Ishbia Reach Agreement For Ishbia To Obtain Future Majority Stake In White Sox
  • White Sox To Promote Kyle Teel
  • Sign Up For Trade Rumors Front Office Now And Lock In Savings!
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2024-25 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2025
    • Free Agent Contest Leaderboard
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Rockies, Charlie Blackmon Have Mutual Interest In New Contract

By Mark Polishuk | August 26, 2023 at 8:50am CDT

Charlie Blackmon is slated to become a free agent for the first time in his career, as the veteran outfielder is in the final season of the five-year, $94MM extension he signed with the Rockies back in April 2018.  However, it seems possible that Blackmon could end up remaining in Colorado, as both the player and the team have interest in continuing the relationship.

Rockies GM Bill Schmidt told Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post that the club is “very interested” in retaining Blackmon, adding that “Charlie would provide a good leadership structure for our young guys.  And he can still play.”  From Blackmon’s perspective, he said he would be open to playing for a new team, “but Colorado is certainly my first choice….Right now, I’m not thinking about any other options.”  Blackmon also left open the possibility of retirement, stating “I’m not saying officially, either way,” that he plans to play in 2024, but “there is definitely a possibility I’ll come back.”

Between the Rockies’ last-place record and a fractured hand that cost him almost two months of action, it has been a difficult season for Blackmon, despite some solid personal statistics.  The 37-year-old is hitting .285/.372/.463 with seven home runs over 285 plate appearances, translating to a 113 wRC+.  This would be Blackmon’s best offensive performance (and first above-average season at the plate) since 2019, when he posted a 127 wRC+ as part of a 32-homer campaign.  While Blackmon’s hard-contact rates haven’t been good, he is at least making a lot of contact, as he has one of the lowest strikeout rates of any batter in the league.

Despite these numbers, Blackmon’s age and relative lack of defensive utility figures to limit his free agent market, perhaps capping him at one guaranteed year or a one-year deal with a club/vesting option.  A two-year contract might be feasible with the Rockies as a nod to his long history with the team, as Blackmon has played all 13 of his Major League seasons in the Mile High City.  As Schmidt noted, Blackmon has stature as a clubhouse leader, which is important for a team that is counting on an upcoming core of young players to get the franchise back on track.

Blackmon has played only right field for the last five seasons, with the UZR/150 metric loving his glovework while other defensive metrics rank him as average or below average on the grass.  Since the National League instituted the designated hitter, Blackmon has spent more time as a DH than as a right fielder, and that usage is likely to continue into 2024 should Blackmon indeed return to Colorado.

Michael Toglia figures to get regular looks at both first base and in right field next season, so a scenario exists where the Rox could use Blackmon in right field whenever Toglia has infield duty, and then the DH spot could be rotated between Blackmon and other players.  Of course, Kris Bryant is also a factor, and as Saunders notes later in the piece, Bryant and manager Bud Black have both been open to the possibility of Bryant playing mostly as a first baseman next year.  Nolan Jones’ emergence will make him a regular in the Rockies’ lineup in some fashion next year, though Jones has played more left field recently and that might be his primary position in 2024 even if Colorado does toggle him around to a few different positions.

Share 0 Retweet 0 Send via email0

Colorado Rockies Charlie Blackmon

Giants Sign Cody Stashak To Minors Deal
Main
Twins Reinstate Joe Ryan From Injured List
View Comments (36)
Post a Comment

36 Comments

  1. iron

    2 years ago

    If the Rockies are smart, they let him go. They have plenty of replacements in the minors that can put up similar numbers for a rookies salary. Spend the money on better pitching.

    12
    Reply
    • brewsingblue82

      2 years ago

      You’re implying two things that probably won’t happen. One, that the Rockies intend to spend next offseason. Two, that Blackmon will cost much. He’s not going to be super cheap by any means, but he’s not going to be expensive either, and it’ll be a small commitment (1-2 years) on a team that’s likely going to stick to their youngsters for a couple more seasons. If he wants to play those seasons as a Rockie and be a career Rockie, there’s nothing wrong with them letting him play out likely the last couple years he wants to play considering they’re nowhere near contending.

      10
      Reply
      • mlb fan

        2 years ago

        “Rockies intend to spend”.
        MLB teams “spend” every single year. Running an MLB team is a yearly multi billion dollar proposition. The Rockies just recently gave Kris Bryant 180 million+. What you should have said is “recklessly waste money”, because the idea that MLB teams do not “spend” every year is ridiculous, false and naive. The Rockies didn’t get in this situation because of lack of “spending”, but because they lack a solid, coherent business and baseball plan.

        3
        Reply
      • Ejemp2006

        2 years ago

        Blackmon will probably do a Alex Gordon type late career deal. He seems to appreciate his place in Rockies history and never came out with me first demands.
        I’d love to see him on the Tigers so he could teach our youngsters how to be ptofessionals, but that’s pretty pie in the sky.

        Reply
        • RunDMC

          2 years ago

          I was wondering if ATL would have interest to replace Rosario ($9M option next season) to play LF, possibly partial platoon with Ozuna. He’d get more from COL in years and most likely dollars, but wondering if there’d be an opportunity there on a short-term to play for his hometown team (he’s even named Cobb, played for GA Tech; drafted 3x (FLA, BOS, COL)). It’s not likely, but there’s not a lot of COF options and I don’t really see ATL interested in bringing back Rosario barring a ridiculous postseason run like in ’21.

          Reply
    • RunDMC

      2 years ago

      You can say the same thing about pitching. You’re going to overpay a FA to get them into the high-elevation of Coors where their career numbers are going to take a hit. It’s a deep enough FA class that you should get someone, but develop that pitching within where they don’t have a choice. “Pitch your way out of here, kid.”

      2
      Reply
      • Florida=WorldsBiggestToilet

        2 years ago

        Even if they don’t have the ability to pitch their way out the org, they have the fallback option of signing with the team long term where they can pitch terribly until their heart’s content, like Kyle Freeland.

        Reply
        • RunDMC

          2 years ago

          And German Marquez (5/$43M) and Antonio Senzatela (6/$50.5M), both on the IL.

          Reply
  2. Jack Buckley

    2 years ago

    Charlie Blackmon was old 10 years ago, has to be tough being a Rockies fan

    4
    Reply
    • mlb fan

      2 years ago

      “Old 10 yrs ago”..I have to agree. It’s pretty shocking that Colorado is desperately holding onto an ineffectual, business and baseball plan.

      1
      Reply
    • Rking

      2 years ago

      I mean as much as he has underperformed his last contract maybe he should pay them.

      2
      Reply
  3. beyou02215

    2 years ago

    This is the most Rockies thing ever!

    5
    Reply
  4. JoeBrady

    2 years ago

    Theoretically, not horrible, so long as they aren’t really committed to winning anything soon.

    But, as always, it will be the terms that makes the Rox so interesting.

    3
    Reply
    • brewsingblue82

      2 years ago

      They definitely won’t be contending anytime to soon and I think the office/ownership is finally coming to better terms with that. What was it? A couple years ago the owner said they’d be a playoff contender, and this year saying they’d be a 500 club and neither have come to pass. I think they know more realistically where they’ll be next year, and it won’t be in the playoffs.

      Reply
      • YankeesBleacherCreature

        2 years ago

        Monfort says that every year and falls short like clockwork. What’s interesting is that Colorado has slipped down to 13th MLB average attendance this season when they have perennially been in the top ten. Attendance numbers is what they are going to focus on so resigning Blackmon and adding a star player should be their priority. Building a winning team is secondary.

        3
        Reply
  5. solaris602

    2 years ago

    Only the Rockies and Cardinals would seriously consider this. Is a late 30s Blackmon the best option to improve the roster and seriously compete, or is sentimentality more important?

    3
    Reply
    • mlb fan

      2 years ago

      “Only the Rockies and Cardinals”…I can almost understand the Cardinals fascination with sentiment(Yadi, Puhjols, Wainwright); they have past glories and World Series championships to celebrate and remember. But, exactly what is Colorado holding onto?..Near misses?.
      …4th place finishes?

      1
      Reply
  6. Yanks2

    2 years ago

    Why?

    1
    Reply
  7. I Like Big Bunts

    2 years ago

    The owner loves his toys and antiques. Winning doesn’t matter.

    1
    Reply
  8. filihok

    2 years ago

    For the Rockies? Maybe

    Add an uninjured Ohtani to that roster and they are still terrible.

    They aren’t going to be good no matter what they do over the next two seasons (or 3 or 4 or). So, keeping a veteran and popular player might be the best option for them.

    Reply
  9. AHH-Rox

    2 years ago

    For veteran leadership with a bat that is still decent and the ability to play RF a couple times a week, I don’t hate the idea if he’ll take a pay cut to maybe $5M.
    There would not really be room for him with a healthy Kris Bryant, but we all know that isn’t going to happen.

    2
    Reply
    • Yanks2

      2 years ago

      Blackmon isn’t worth 5m, let alone league minimum. He’s an anchor around the team at this point in his playing career

      3
      Reply
      • AHH-Rox

        2 years ago

        Did you miss reading the part about the 113 WRC+ this season? Hasn’t been a star for several years, but still a better hitter than most of what they’d be able to afford in FA. For example better than Profar has been for them this season, and Profar cost more than $5M.
        Don’t keep him if it blocks a promising young player like Nolan Jones, but I think there is room for both and other good prospects like Veen and Fernandez won’t be ready next year, at least not at the beginning.

        Reply
        • Yanks2

          2 years ago

          He’s still not worth 5m

          3
          Reply
    • solaris602

      2 years ago

      “a healthy Kris Bryant”. Now there’s an oxymoron if there ever was one.

      1
      Reply
  10. 4thefences

    2 years ago

    Keeping Blackmon is not going to break the bank for the Rockies. He can still hit and does provide great leadership. A flailing team that is still among the best in attendance and all of the other forms of revenue at Coors field has Monfort a very wealthy man. #19 will be retired on the wall when Charlie decides to hang up the spikes.

    Reply
  11. jorge78

    2 years ago

    NO NO NO NO NO!

    1
    Reply
  12. FlakySouthpaw

    2 years ago

    If an owner had walk-up music Monforts would be the same as Chucks.

    Reply
  13. Wheeler Dealer

    2 years ago

    I guess winning isn’t important to him or Bryant

    3
    Reply
  14. TrillionaireTeamOperator

    2 years ago

    Yeah this doesn’t really make sense for either side. His productive days are behind him, whatever they will pay him will be chump change next to what he’s earned over the course of his career and he’ll be an already aged- as opppsed to aging- player on the downslope taking up a roster spot.

    I guess he wants a farewell tour but he wants it formally and he didn’t bother to make it formal for 2023?

    I don’t really understand the Rockies’ passion and commitment to him. He had a couple of pretty good seasons and a few perfectly cromulent seasons and has been on the verge of replaceable for a few years now and is almost below replacement level at this point.

    Only thing I can think of is Blackmon thinks he can get a 1 year/$5M guarantee in the form of a 1 year/$1M base salary with a $4M buyout on a $19M option that he triggers with an incredible bounce back season in 2024, or something insane along those lines.

    2
    Reply
  15. colton

    2 years ago

    Stick a fork in him and let’s please move on.

    2
    Reply
  16. Pete'sView

    2 years ago

    So Rockies.

    Reply
  17. User 1855579867

    2 years ago

    Blackmon to the Yankees would be awesome…. “shear” revelation..

    Reply
  18. Ironkevin49

    2 years ago

    Do not players like those I be 38 next year never been to the world series never really never came close to why would I stay intry my luck as a free agent maybe sign with a team that should win braves Houston ete ete why stay a rockies when you season is basically over by the end of May maybe the weather nice I do not know the name of the game is to win If you stay in Denver you will win nothing .

    Reply
  19. Colorado Springs

    2 years ago

    I don’t know if Charlie is interested in playing another year, but I would like to see him as a player/coach – a niche he is already filling with all the fine youngsters coming into their own. No true Rockies fan wants to see him leave the organization.

    Reply
  20. Colorado Springs

    2 years ago

    There should be a secret handshake or something before you can comment. Non-Rockies fans should go elsewhere.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Braves Designate Craig Kimbrel For Assignment

    Corbin Burnes To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Braves Select Craig Kimbrel

    Jerry Reinsdorf, Justin Ishbia Reach Agreement For Ishbia To Obtain Future Majority Stake In White Sox

    White Sox To Promote Kyle Teel

    Sign Up For Trade Rumors Front Office Now And Lock In Savings!

    Pablo Lopez To Miss Multiple Months With Teres Major Strain

    MLB To Propose Automatic Ball-Strike Challenge System For 2026

    Giants Designate LaMonte Wade Jr., Sign Dominic Smith

    Reds Sign Wade Miley, Place Hunter Greene On Injured List

    Padres Interested In Jarren Duran

    Royals Promote Jac Caglianone

    Mariners Promote Cole Young, Activate Bryce Miller

    2025-26 MLB Free Agent Power Rankings: May Edition

    Evan Phillips To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    AJ Smith-Shawver Diagnosed With Torn UCL

    Reds Trade Alexis Díaz To Dodgers

    Rockies Sign Orlando Arcia

    Ronel Blanco To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Joc Pederson Suffers Right Hand Fracture

    Recent

    Orioles Notes: Westburg, Mullins, O’Neill

    Tigers Notes: Vierling, Olson, Urquidy, Boyd

    Twins Place Zebby Matthews On 15-Day IL, Reinstate Danny Coulombe

    Yankees Claim CJ Alexander

    Phillies Claim Ryan Cusick, Designate Kyle Tyler

    Brewers Claim Drew Avans

    White Sox Sign Tyler Alexander, Place Jared Shuster On 15-Day IL

    Orioles Designate Matt Bowman For Assignment

    Diamondbacks Select Kyle Backhus, Designate Aramis Garcia

    Athletics Acquire Austin Wynns

    ad: 300x250_5_side_mlb

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • 2024-25 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • Nolan Arenado Rumors
    • Dylan Cease Rumors
    • Luis Robert Rumors
    • Marcus Stroman Rumors

     

    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
    • Front Office Originals
    • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
    • MLBTR Podcast
    • 2024-25 Offseason Outlook Series
    • 2025 Arbitration Projections
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • RSS/Twitter Feeds By Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrows scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version