Home is where Helton is
Funny thing about Todd Helton is that the day of the draft, back in 1995, he was ready to join the Oakland A’s. A deal was pretty much in place before the draft even began.
Then, when it came time for Oakland to make the seventh selection in the draft, the scouting department was overruled, and the A’s selected Cuban defector Ariel Prieto, a right-handed pitcher they thought would provide quick help at the big-league level.
Colorado, drafting eighth, landed Helton, who admitted he didn’t know much about the history of the Rockies, who were in their third season of existence at the time.
Helton not only knows the Rockies history now, he has written most of it.
And on Thursday, it became clear that the final chapter has not been written.
Helton agreed to not only defer the bulk of his salary for 2011, but also accepted a two-year extension through 2013 that will allow him to finish his playing career where it began, with the Rockies, and also opens the way for him to remain with the organization once his playing days are over.
It is a deal that shows the respect the Rockies have for Helton.
“We view him in the same way as a Cal Ripken, George Brett and Tony Gwynn,” Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd said. “He’s a Rockie, and a Hall of Famer we believe. We felt like a player of this caliber and what he means to us that this is something we didn’t want to take to the end. And he was so open-minded it working with us. It was something that made sense, and it’s great for the fans to be able to celebrate him and know he will be here.”
Most of all, the new dealt underscores what Helton has said all along – he has never, since signing back in 1995, wanted to play for any team other than the Rockies.
The extension:
– Wipes out a club option on a $23 million salary for 2012;
– Provides for Helton to receive a $4.6 million signing bonus in 2011 (which happens to be the amount of the buyout on the option);
–Calls for Helton to defer $13.1 million of his $19.1 million salary in 2011 for 10 years, beginning in 2014,
–And provides salaries of $4.9 million in 2012 and $5 million in 2013.
“We started talking in December, and I was ready to get something done,” Helton said. “I’ve talked to other players. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side. We’ve got a good thing going here, and I want to be part of it.”
In the last three seasons, Helton and Rockies fans have begun to have tangible evidence that the build-from-within plan created by O’Dowd would work. The Rockies have been the NL wild-card two of the last three years, advancing to the World Series in 2007. And last year, the Rockies Opening Day lineup was the only one in baseball in which every player was originally signed by the organization. In fact, when the Rockies clinched a post-season berth in late September, each of the 10 players who appeared in that game were original Rockies signees.
In recent years the Rockies have emphasized that they want to keep their nucleus together, but the players have to show a desire to remain in Colorado, which means long-term contracts have to be negotiated that provide the team cost-certainty.
When players have balked, the Rockies have moved on, including trading Matt Holliday prior to 2009 to Oakland, and non-tendering Garrett Atkins this past off-season. In general, however, the players have responded, and in the last three years the list of Rockies home-growns to sign multi-year deals includes Chris Iannetta, Troy Tulowitzki, Ryan Spilborghs, Brad Hawpe, Aaron Cook, Ubaldo Jimenez, Jeff Francis, and Manuel Corpas.
And with Helton reaffirming his commitment to the Rockies, the feeling is he will allow the front office to keep the nucleus in place past this season. By deferring $13.1 million of the $23.7 million he would have received in 2011 — including the $4.6 million buyout on the 2012 option –- Helton gives O’Dowd payroll room to exercise options on the likes of Hawpe, whose salary would be $10 million in 2011, and Francis, who would make $7 million, and also puts the Rockies in a position to retain potential free-agent left-hander Jorge De La Rosa.
“This is a win-win,” said Helton. “It gives us a chance to keep a championship caliber club together, and puts me in position to end my career where I started.”
It’s the way it should be. It will make it easier to have No. 17, the one he wears, the first number in franchise history to ever be retired.
The stats should support the case. Consider that his .328 career average is third among active players, behind only Alberto Pujols (.334) and Ichiro Suzuki (.333). What’s more he ranks first among active players with a .427 on-base percentage, sixth in doubles with 509, 10th in walks with 1,130, 14th in RBI with 1,202, 16th in home runs with 325, and 15th in hits with 2,134.
And every one of those has come wearing a Rockies uniform.
There were a couple of recent bumps in the road. With the Rockies looking to free payroll prior to the 2007 season, Helton did give them a one-time-only waiver of his no-trade clause for a possible deal to Boston which fell through, and then his 2008 season was cut short by back surgery.
He, however, was back in the lineup last year. While the five-time All-Star’s power numbers were down (15 home runs), he did hit .325 and drove in 86 runs. He admitted he wore down during the season, but feels stronger this season, one year removed from the surgery, and has come to grips with the idea he might have to take a day or two a month off.
Most of all, though, he knows that his career will continue for at least three more years in a Rockies uniform.
This is great. A class move by the organization and by Helton. This is the way all teams should treat and work with their legendary players.
This is the kind of thing that makes the Rockies so easy to root for.
I remember back in 1987 I was an usher for the Rockies, we went to a Colorado Springs game and it was the first time I saw Todd. He was not that good and all I could think was how was he going to replace one of the best first basemen in the league?
After watching him from Section 139 for all those years he has made me forget about how he played in that game.
I still have great fondness for Andres, but Todd is just that much better. These are the two best first basemen I have ever watched. Helton is a Hall of Fame player and Andres should get a better look at for the Hall of Fame.
There are many pluses to this agreement for Todd, for the Rockies, for the fans, and, to me, most of all for his teammates. The Rockies have developed a reputation for treating their players fairly and honestly. This deal enhances that reputation and shows Troy and others with multiyear deals that the front office is willing to come through to keep the core together. The clear ideal here is the FO and the players work together as a team, not in opposition and negotiating warfare with each other. The immediate effect of the deal is to save the team about 8.6M next year from the amount that Todd would otherwise receive and thereby make possible a move for DLR or whomever else looks like a deserving player. It enhances the chances that the Rocks will be able to get Carlos and Dexter into multiyear deals, even though they both have Boras as their agent. Treat people right and others notice and respond. It makes a Rockies fan feel good about being a Rockies fan.
Jasper, truth is it saves the team $13.1 million for next year because in addition to his $19.1 million salary in 2011, the Rockies were going to have to come up with the $4.6 million to cover the buyout on 2012.
Obviously they will prefund the deferred money, which is what they did with Walker, so it will eat up some of the savings.
What a deal! Helton helps achieve his goal to win a world series in Colorado by making his deal friendlier to the organization so that they can spread the resources to other core players. Wish we saw such accountability and concept of team more often. Cheers to Todd!
What a neat deal.
I saw the headline on the official site — “Rockies sign Helton to 2-year extension” — and I have to admit I was worried at the start. While Helton bounced back very, very nicely last year, I didn’t really think extending him through his age 39 season was a good idea.
But given the way Todd agreed to restructure his contract, it’s a win-win. Rare to see a great player these days play his entire career with one organization. Even as he drops off a bit from last year’s level of production, he can still be a valuable contributor. And there should be a fair amount of payroll flexibility next year for the Rox thanks to the restructuring.
Funny how when he signed the huge contract it seemed like a great deal. Then in 2006 when he refused to invoke his opt-out Helton’s contract seemed like a huge albatross around the Rockies’ payroll necks. Then with his bounce-back last year it seemed fair all over again. Now? It’s actually a good deal for the club, and great for Helton.
And I’m going to Tucson next week!
Sounds like the same sort of thing a guy named Elway did for the Broncos a few years back. Here’s hoping the Rockies get similar results!
Thanks, Tracy, for straightening out my math for me before I have to face Sister Mary (Actually, at age 75 I don’t have worries like that). Agbayani, I’ll be in Tucson next week as well.
This is great!!! Wish I was going to Tucson with Agbayani next week. I have always like the way Todd handled himself and his attidue with the Rockies and the fans. GO Rockies!!!
Agbayani and Jasper, Jack will be in Tucson and I will be in the Phoenix area next week, attending most of the Rockies games, if you get a chance please say hello.
It is good to see fans are going down to Tucson I’ll be there for the game on the 23rd and I’m very excited. I’m originally from Tucson before moving to Denver and I’ll be buying a lot of toros memorabilia and hoping the rockies have a good farewell from hi Corbett.
Superb news, indeed. I’m heading out for Tucson later today, and cannot wait to see Todd take the field on Sunday. I’ve been anticipating spring training this year with a mixture of melancholy (the last year in Tucson) and little boy Christmas morning excitement (what the team will bring to the field every day).
I have really enjoyed heading to Tucson and cheering on the boys, there. I love the small-town feel of the city and the old-time park–not just another cookie-cutter 10k seat joint. I understand the rationale for the move, on so many levels, but I certainly will miss the spring days at Hi Corbett. Off to the valley next year, I guess, and locating new favorite spots, there.
As to the club, my goodness, I cannot decide whether I’m more anxious to watch the infielders, the outfielders, the starters, or the relievers. And Tracy and the rest of the fellows on the bench are no slouches, either. I never dared imagine the Rockies could ever field such a blend of young talent and veteran cool, and all boys who love to play the game. Now maybe, just maybe, we shall get to see another “Helton throws off his helmet” heading down the third base line moment or three.
Travel safely, everyone. Let’s get ready to “open those presents.”
Tracy, are you planning on attending the games in Albuquerque April 2nd and 3rd?
Timo, sorry, I won’t be there. I am actually working in spring training for FOXSports.com, and that’s why I am primarily based in the Phoenix area. I’ll be home in Cheyenne April 2-3, and then headed to Milwaukee to begin my second year teaming up with Tom Helmer on the post-game and pre-game shows.
I will miss Albuquerque. It’s high on my list. I make it down that every other year when the Cowboys play the Lobos in football and got to throughly enjoy Albuqeruque this past December when the Cowboys upset Fresno State.
Yeah what a game that was! The pokes really deserved that
Great job, class act by all involved.
I agree, this was a classy move by all. Good for the team and the individual. Three more plus weeks are we are at opening day. Jealous of you guys down there in AZ right now. Enjoy.
Great news for the Rockies and Todd.
Tracy, really enjoy you on the pre and post game show. My family and I were lucky enough to enjoy part of our vacation at Coors field last year, and one of my daughter’s and my favorite pictures of the whole trip was on the set of the pre game show. Would enjoy sending the picture to you and the FSN crew as it is a great memory for a 7 year old girl and her dad. Thank you Jim from Mountlake Terrace, Washington
I was raised on the Red Sox of the 70s and 80s, and had the pleasure of watching the likes of Yaz, Jim Rice and Dwight Evans: classy, no frills, hard working guys who played out there entire careers in front of the demanding and glory-starved Boston fans (yes, I know Dewey played one season in Baltimore, but Sox fans choose to pretend that didn’t happen). My Mom, a dedicated non-sports fan (though she liked Yaz because he’s Polish), used to scoff at my loyalty to the “local” team, pointing out that hardly any of them were actually locals. But you tend to get attached to the ones who stick around for that many years, and it didn’t matter that they were really from Long Island, or Santa Monica, or Anderson, South Carolina.
I’m a Colorado guy now, my sports-hero worship days are far behind me, and the era of free agency had me convinced that today’s teams truly are made up of mercenaries who’d forget what city they played in if it wasn’t stitched across their chests. But for the past two seasons I’ve had the distinct pleasure of watching Todd Helton from my season ticket seats just up from first base at Coors Field. I’ve always appreciated his defensive skill, his uncanny ability to foul off bad pitches, and his quiet leadership, but when I read about the contract extension and his willingness to defer millions in income so he could finish his career in front of Rockies fans — and so the team could have cash on hand to keep this team together, I realized what a special player he is. I’m not naive – I realize he’s still making more money than most of us will ever see. But how refreshing it is to know that he enjoys playing in front of us just as much as we enjoy watching him play.
I’m in no hurry to see his playing days end, but I do look forward to the day when they hang that number 17 on the outfield wall- especially if he’s in the dugout as the manager or hitting coach – and when he salutes the Coors faithful after his Hall of Fame induction. I believe both of those things will happen because he wants them to – and he’s proven he’ll work like a dog to achieve his goals.
P.S. My Mom still claims not to like sports, but even she puts on purple and comes along to cheer heartily for the Rockies several times a year – of course, that nice Polish boy who plays shortstop has something to do with that.
Nice post TPC21!
Wonder how many Rox fans recall that it was not that long ago (3 yrs?) that the Rockies were in somewhat serious negotiations to trade Helton to the Bosox? Lowell, Delcarmen and others were rumored to be heading back to the Rockies in that proposed trade. Good players however that might yet go down in history as one of the best deals that DanO never pulled the trigger on.
Kudos to Todd and DanO for illustrating to everyone in baseball how the business side should be balanced with the team approach!
Now if I can just get to my playoff seat without waiting over an hour at the entrance gate – I’ll be happy!
Agbayani & Jasper look me up dd seat 10 ask anyone down there.
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