SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Veteran slugger Kris Bryant has agreed a $ 182 million, seven-year deal to join the Colorado Rockies, according to a person familiar with the agreement.
The person confirmed the deal to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday because his completion is based on a successful physical.
Bryant joins his third team in eight months after spending his first six major league seasons with the Chicago Cubs, which he traded to San Francisco last July.
The 2016 NL MVP and World Series champion hit a combined .265 with 25 homers and 73 RBIs last season, and he hit eight hits in the Giants’ five-game playoff loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Despite a midseason slump that triggered the trade, Bryant earned his fourth career All-Star selection during a solid rebound of a rough year on the plate in 2020.
The Rockies clearly liked what they saw: Bryant landed a huge free agent deal to move to Colorado as a mid-of-the-order bat and a fielder who could play third base, first base or outfield – his most likely position with the Rockies, who have Ryan McMahon in third and CJ Cron in first. Bryant is also an obvious candidate to join Charlie Blackmon in the Rockies designated hitters.
Bryant is a career .278 hitter with 167 homers, 487 RBIs and an .880 OPS, but he is about to get the full benefits of playing at hitter-friendly Coors Field, where he hit .263 (15-for-57) . with two homers, nine RBIs and a .757 OPS in his career.
The 2015 NL Rookie of the Year right-handed swing will compensate the left-handed leap to the outfield lineup for the Rockies, who have not won a playoff game since 2009.
The signing shows that Colorado still wants to be competitive in the NL West despite its roster rise over the last year-plus, including last year’s trade of Nolan Arenado and the impending probable departure of Trevor Story.
The Rockies signed free agent shortstop Jose Iglesias to a one-year contract on Wednesday, apparently acknowledging that Story’s productive tenure with the club is over. The two-time All-Star scored 158 homers for Colorado.
Iglesias hit .271 with 27 doubles, nine homers and 48 RBIs last season with the Los Angeles Angels and Boston. After several seasons as one of the majors’ top defensive players at shortstop, Iglesias eagerly battled in the field last year at Anaheim, making a career-high 16 fouls before Halos released him in September.
“In 2012, he was the coolest, funniest guy I’ve ever seen in the field,” said Rockies right-hander Daniel Bard, who played with Iglesias in Boston. “It was like, ‘Oh, my God, if he can just do it together, he’s Omar Vizquel. He is like a magician with his hands. He also brings energy. He has had a truly brilliant career. I’ve been impressed with him since the day I met him. ”
The Rockies also signed a one-year contract with longtime Pittsburgh right-hander Chad Kuhl, now a top candidate to fill the place in the starting rotation, which was released when Jon Gray signed a four-year, $ 56 million free- Agent Deal with Texas.
“I believe in myself,” Kuhl said. “I’m committed to being a starter, but I’ve always been a team guy. It’s always been my nature to try to win, so what I can do to help is what I do. But I believe that’s worth starting. I believe me I’ll add a lot of value as a starter. “
Kuhl went 5-7 with a 4.82 ERA last season, making 14 starts and 14 relief appearances. He is 25-30 in five major league seasons with the Pirates, though he missed the 2019 season after undergoing Tommy John Bande replacement surgery in late 2018.
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