DOD, great move.

I never thought that would be the case

Sucks for first basemen in the system.

I have a meeting very soon, but please feel free to post your ideas

But that doesn’t mean I’m not delighted. I love this contract, both from a financial standpoint, but also because it indicates that Helton cares about playing in Colorado and that the team cares about Helton playing in Colorado. And probably that they care about the fans.

and this is the best news ever! Nice move Rockies!

I have to wonder how the MLBPA thinks about this, if Todd is actually giving up dollars in real terms. But then, I haven’t read the Renck piece just yet…

I hope the fans demand at least a hat tip. If anyone has tickets, make it happen.

you are the man Todd

Everyone pour on your head!

Seriously one of the classiest player to ever step foot on MLB soil. I love how Todd actually shows that he cares about his team… a feature that is seldom seen these days in the MLB (or sports in general)

1. should be the first number retired by the Rockies.

Still a little confused if he’s actually taking a pay cut (I don’t think he is right?) in his entire contract, but regardless, excellent signing for the Rockies to relieve the financial stress Todd would have inevitably caused next season. This Rocks!

So, 2011 will be less burdensome by about 8 million. He’s making 5 million in 2012 and 13, which is a steal if he keeps up his current production (though that’s no sure thing). 1.3 million for each of the next ten years, which will be chump change.

This helps us a ton in 2011. If there are some good FA’s out there, we will have an extra 8 million to spend that we wouldn’t have had before. Todd knows this, and was willing to sacrifice money now for the prospect of having an even better shot of winning then. 2011 was going to be a belt-tightening year, since we would have had to sink a fourth of our payroll into one guy. This is great stuff.

So we get Todd for two more years for very few more dollars, and 2011 will be much less painful to the payroll. WOOOOHOOOOO, win/win baby!

You are a Man’s Man Sir,

Since I first met you on my television set I have loved you
Thank you for being my Favorite Rockie ever,
Playing the game right and leading by example.
If my kids play the game or anything they do in the same manner, I will consider myself a lucky man.

1. is already retired in my mind but I can wait for your invitation to the HOF until you are ready to go on your terms.

good job FO, DOD, Brothers Monfort for working to keep this team competitive for years to come.

And WAY TO GO TODD. WE LOVE YOU MAN.

is the way Tulo looks up to Helton. If the Rockies continue to contend over the next four years it’s not inconceivable that the youngster will follow in Todd’s footsteps when he gets to a similar juncture in his career. I wonder if Cargo is watching?

because he wants to win a championship but I feel like he gave me a gift today as well.

Huge kudos for Todd for having open ears and even bigger kudos for Dan O’Dowd for dreaming up this creative option. The Monforts might deserve some due for signing up for an off the books expense for the next decade too.

“This is a great commitment for the both the organization and me,” Helton said in a team release. “Potentially it allows us to continue to put a championship caliber club on the field and allows me the opportunity to finish my career as a Colorado Rockie. Because I am a Rockie.”

and Dan

“When we approached Todd about an extension, it was with our team and the stability of our franchise as the framework of the negotiations, and he was in complete agreement with our thought process,” general manager Dan O’Dowd said in the team release. “His commitment to the standard of team, his strength of character and the mutual trust and accountability between Todd and the organization made the extension right for both of us.”

YYYYYYYYYYYYY

Wow…go Todd, and go Rockies!

Where is the 13M being deferred FROM exactly? Is this 20.5M over the next 3 years (11-13), 13.1M of which is deferred, meaning his actual cash flow (before taxes and such) would be 7.4M?

Or is it 20.5M in actual cash flow (before taxes, etc) plus the 13M in deferred money?

Neither one of these seem to make a lot of sense. The first option doesn’t make financial sense for Helton, since his 2011-2013 salaries would be less than the 2011 salary + buyout. However, it’s a more accurate use of the word “salary”.

The second option makes more sense, but it would be a butchering of the word “salary”. If his 2011 salary is 10.6M + some deferred money (and his 2012 and 2013 pay similarly constructed), then it’s not accurate to say that the salary is 10.6M. This is probably what they mean, though. If this IS the case, I’m pretty srue they’ll have to assign this 13.1M to the remaining years of the contract, for the purposes of calculating the applicability of luxury tax.

I cannot think of a better active player in this league. Yes, it is a lot of money for his production level – but those who are saying this like we shouldn’t give him this money just don’t understand. He brings so much more to this team than a batting average or OPS, etc. He brings the right attitude and work ethic and shares it with others, inspiring them to be the same. To see this kind of thing happen is awesome. He obviously really cares about this team and wants to be a Rockie for his whole career.

Way to go Todd! I will be clapping as loud as possible come April 9th.

“Everything we do starts with Todd. He’s Colorado baseball,” shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said.

and Hawpe doubled. Welcome back, Old Top

Todd just reaffirmed why he’s my favorite player ever. He’s the reason why i became a Rockies fan in the first place.

Love reading everyone’s excitment in this thread almost as much as the contract itself.

I’m sure Jabbs will cover this in much greater detail in an upcoming article but basically I see this as another indication that the Rockies (and Todd Helton) are more concerned about winning than anything else. As others have mentioned this helps the Rockies in two huge ways.

1) It gives the Rockies a whole lot more payroll flexibility in 2011. Before this new Helton contract the Rockies already had 59.091 million dollars committed to the 2011 payroll. (Only about 23 million shy of the Rockies current payroll in 2010) Now the Rockies only have 50.691 million committed to next season (if I did the math right). That’s a whole lot more room to play with right there and could make a big difference next offseason.

2) It gives the Rockies a guy they know they can count on for four four more years. They know they will have the high OBP, they know they will have the stellar defense and scooping ability to complement Stewart, Tulo, and Barmes, and most of all they know they will have the example Todd sets in the clubhouse for another four years.

This is truly a great day for the Rockies.

I love Todd, his approach, ability, demeanor, class etc. This is the reason I have spent the last 13 years collecting not only baseball cards but Todd Helton Cards. I have 570+ and now that this deal is done there will be more to come. Thanks for everything Todd, you truly are Mr. Rockie.