Colorado Rockies, DJ LeMahieu settle for 2-year, $7.8 million deal

The Colorado Rockies on Wednesday settled their arbitration case with second baseman DJ LeMahieu, according to Jon Heyman. The deal will buy out a year of arbitration for LeMahieu and reportedly totals two years and $7.8 million.

Though the Rockies will pay significantly more in average annual value than LeMahieu's submitted figure of $3.3 million for this season, the deal has a chance to become advantageous for the club if the 2015 All-Star puts himself in a position for what would've been another big raise prior to 2017. In all, LeMahieu will receive $3 million -- just below the previously established midpoint -- this year and $4.8 million next season, tweets Heyman.

LeMahieu came to the Rockies in 2011 as a part of the deal that sent Ian Stewart to the Cubs. Though he won a Gold Glove in 2014, the 2015 season saw the LSU product break out, as he was named to his first All-Star team and hit .301/.358/.388 with 61 RBI. This is his first offseason as an arbitration-eligible player. LeMahieu will be eligible for free agency following the 2018 campaign.

Of the three players for whom the Rockies filed arbitration figures, LeMahieu was the last to settle, and apparently did so right before he was scheduled to go to hearing. Charlie Blackmon previously agreed to a deal worth $3.5 million, not long after Nolan Arenado and the club settled at $5 million.

LeMahieu's agreement comes just in time for the first official full squad workout of spring training, which will be next Thursday, Feb. 25.