Pitcher Kyle Freeland and the Colorado Rockies agree to a five-year, $64.5 million contract extension

the left Kyle Freeland The Colorado Rockies have agreed to a five-year, $64.5 million contract that includes a player option for the sixth year, sources familiar with the deal told ESPN.

The contract ties the 28-year-old Freeland and his hometown team through at least the 2026 season and will secure him the most cash for a Rockies’ bowler since they signed Mike Hampton to a $121 million deal more than two decades ago.

The Rockies announced an extension of Freeland’s term Tuesday but did not disclose financial terms.

Freeland is the third freshman to make a long-term Colorado deal in recent years. right hand German Marquis In 2019 he signed a five-year contract worth $43 million that includes the club’s option for 2024 and the right wing Antonio Cinzatella He secured a five-year, $50.5 million contract with the club’s option for 2027 over the winter. Rocky also extended to the third baseman Ryan McMahon for six years and $70 million in March.

At 7-3, Colorado tied for third-highest league baseball record, but is still behind the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-2 and 7-2 San Francisco Giants entering Tuesday’s games.

Freeland’s best season came in 2018, when he finished his career in 2.85 ERA over 202 runs and finished fourth in the Cy Young National League vote. He struggled the following season, and has been consistent ever since, with 4.33 ERAs in the pandemic shortened 2020 season as well as more than 120 rounds last year, when he missed the first two months of the season with a shoulder injury.

His recovery, as well as his last 18 starts posting 3.24 ERAs over the course of 100 runs, convinced the Rockies that he was worth spending over the guaranteed $80 million. The team selected Vreeland with the eighth overall selection in the 2014 Amateur Draft, and he’s been a staple of its rotation since his debut in 2017.

Freeland was due to arrive at free agency after the 2023 season. His 2022 salary has yet to be determined, with the Rockies offering $6.425 million and Freeland asking for $7.8 million in arbitration.

In his first two games of the season, Freeland posted 10.00 ERA, allowing 14 hits and four walks in nine innings with seven hits.

With Freeland, Marquez, Senzatella, McMahon, Chris BryantAnd CJ CrohnAnd Randall Grechuk And Elias Diaz They are all under contract for next season and $16 million due to help cover the salary of the rolling star, the third star on base Nolan ArenadoThe Rockies already have a payroll of over $100 million for the upcoming season.