Rockies and Helton agree to extension through 2013
While there were times where fans thought it might not happen, Colorado Rockies General Manager Dan O’Dowd made sure that today it became official: Todd Helton will be a lifetime Rockie. 
Here are the details, provided by MLB.com reporter Doug Miller:
The extension will be worth $9.9 million in all, with salaries of $4.9 million in 2012 and $5 million in 2013. Also, Helton agreed to defer over $13 million of his existing contract over a 10-year period beginning in 2014. This could allow the Rockies to re-sign starter Jorge De La Rosa, who will become eligible for free agency after this season, and to pick up 2011 club options on outfielder Brad Hawpe ($10 million) or starter Jeff Francis ($7 million).
Next year, Helton, 36, will be in the last of a nine-year, $141.5 million contract extension that he signed before the 2003 season. That deal included a $23 million club option for 2012 with a $4.6 million buyout and would have paid him $19.1 million in 2011. Now, after deferring the money, he’ll make $10.7 million next season.
“This is where I want to be,” Helton said. “I know from talking to a lot of other players, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. I know what we have here, and I know that we are really good.”
Helton, Colorado’s first-round selection in the 1997 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Tennessee, has racked up a career .328 batting average to go with 325 home-runs and 1,202 RBI’s in 1,812 games since his debut in August 1997.
He has also been a standout in the infield at first base, collecting gold gloves in 2001, 2002 and 2004. He arguably deserves many more gold gloves but has seen his consideration for the award decrease as his offensive numbers have slowly declined throughout his career. Guys like Albert Pujols seem to bring home the award every year now, and one has to think it is largely due to his bat and not his glove.
Last season, Helton hit .325 with 15 HRs and 86 RBIs. He also became the 50th player in Major League history to reach the 500 career doubles mark and the 255th player in history to reach 2,000 hits.
When the franchise wasn’t a winning club many people believed that Helton would eventually be traded away to a winning team. However, when the Rockies reached the World Series in 2007, a winning culture was instilled in Colorado and they Rockies young players have responded to Helton’s leadership.
“He is our leader,” outfielder Brad Hawpe said. “He just wants to win. And he’s very talented. … In order to get the opportunity [to play for only one team in a long career], it takes not only talent but a special person.”
Former Rockies third baseman and current special assistant to O’Dowd, Vinny Castilla, also said that Helton means “everything,” to the organization.
“He should be the first guy to have his number retired for the organization,” Castilla said. “He’s a great player, a great role model for all the young kids here, and a great guy.”
Helton and O’Dowd both recognize that 2013 isn’t necessarily the end date for Helton in baseball or as a Rockie, but they both acknowledge that this extension just about locks up Helton as a career Rockies.
“I just know that we all felt collectively, from ownership on down, that this was the right thing to do for this player,” O’Dowd said. “And we absolutely think he can be a very productive player for three more years, maybe even beyond that.
“We could have another extension in three years. Who knows?”
Said Helton: “The biggest thing is finishing my career as a Rockie,” Helton said. “I know what we have here. It’s a good thing. I’m excited about it. And it’s going to give the team freedom to keep the team intact. That’s a great thing.”
“[At the end of this deal] I’ll be an old man, in baseball terms,” Helton said. “But if I’m out there and not playing well, it’ll be time to hang it up.”
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