Blackmon, Rockies agree to 1-year extension?

DENVER -- Charlie Blackmon has been introduced as the Rockies’ leadoff hitter many times since his 2011 debut, but not like Friday night during the first inning of a 7-6 loss to the Twins.

As Blackmon stood on deck for the bottom of the first inning against the Twins, the announcement came over the public address system that Blackmon had agreed to a one-year contract extension with the Rockies through 2024.

So there was some news before fans could chime in with the “Toniiiiight!” in Blackmon’s iconic walk-up song, “Your Love” by The Outfield. His teammates joined in the ovation. Some pounded on the dugout railing. And everyone was able to cheer Blackmon’s single through the right side of the infield moments later.

“That was cool,” Blackmon said. “That's really out of the ordinary, which doesn't happen a lot. You play a lot of baseball. You get really wrapped up in your routines and doing the same thing and trying to be really, really consistent. So it was fun to have something like that, to feel so different on a baseball field.”

Robert Murray of FanSided, citing sources, reported that Blackmon's 2024 contract calls for a $13 million base salary with $2 million available in performance bonuses. Sources tell MLB.com that the incentives are $500,000 for reaching the following thresholds: 425, 450, 475 and 500 plate appearances.

With that out of the way, Blackmon went 2-fort-5, with singles in his first two at-bats.

“From the time Charlie walks through the doors, he’s all business,” manager Bud Black said during an in-game interview on AT&T SportsNet. “There’s a way about Charlie that the focus is there. The intensity is there. There’s a certain confidence to Charlie, and for the guys it helps them relax a little bit, because they know Charlie is on their side and that’s a good thing.”

Blackmon, 37, entered the night batting .283 with eight home runs and 40 RBIs, and has performed well since his Aug. 14 return from missing 53 games with a right hand injury -- .311/.405/.496 in 37 games.

Blackmon, a four-time All-Star, signed a six-year, $108 million contract with the club at the start of the 2018 season. At the end of last season, the Rockies picked up a 2023 option, valued at $15 million.

During a rough Rockies season -- 58-102 following Friday's loss -- the team went with younger players. While Blackmon served as designated hitter Friday, rookies Nolan Jones in left, Brenton Doyle in center and Sean Bouchard in right manned the outfield.

But Blackmon’s solid season, and his strong finish, not only as a DH but in right, proved to the club that he is its best option in the leadoff spot. Three of the Rockies’ top five MLB Pipeline prospects are outfielders -- Yanquiel Fernandez (No. 2), Jordan Beck (No. 4) and Zac Veen (No. 5). All are in the Top 100 -- Fernandez at 49, Beck at 83 and Veen at 92. None have reached Triple-A.

Blackmon -- who turns 38 next July -- will try to help the Rockies win while giving the younger players time.

“We’ve got some young guys that are going to contribute,” Blackmon said. “We've got some guys that aren't so young anymore -- they're like young veterans, I suppose, that still have a lot of room to grow up. So I think there's a lot more left.”

Blackmon is the only active Major League player with at least 300 doubles, 60 triples and 200 home runs, and his 63 career triples lead active players. Thinking it might be his last year, Blackmon said he took time during Spring Training to “really soak up this year.”

But with success, he wanted more.

“It's fun to be the younger guy when Todd Helton retires, and now it's kind of fun to be the older guy that will retire someday -- and have the young guys around,” Blackmon said. “It’s one thing to see it when you're 24. Now I've had a long time to navigate my own path and see the back end of it. It’s really neat.”

The Rockies and Blackmon went to the postseason in 2017 and 2018, but have had losing seasons since and are rebuilding. Black is clear-eyed about what’s ahead, with youthful struggles and injuries that have set back some progress.

Black believes players wanting to be a part of it is important. Pitchers Antonio Senzatela and Kyle Freeland signed lengthy deals last year. Senzatela and Germán Márquez underwent Tommy John surgery this year, but Márquez signed a two-year extension to stay with the team.

“There's some guys who are maybe not quite there, you know, but there's some talent,” Black said. “I don't know when they're gonna get in. But there's a pretty good feeling going on.”