(Scottsdale) Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar and the Colorado Rockies agreed to a seven-year, $63.5 million deal Tuesday that includes an option year at the team’s discretion. team which could increase its total value to 84 million.
The 22-year-old will get a signing bonus of 1.5 million and a base salary of 1.5 million this season, 4 million in 2025, 5 million in 2026, 8 million in 2027, 11 million in 2028, 14 million in 2029 and 16 million in 2030. The option year left to the discretion of the club would bring it 23 million for 2031, and its buyout would cost 2.5 million.
Tovar’s new pact replaces the one-year pact ratified on February 29 which allowed him to pocket $745,000 in the major leagues and $361,000 in the minor leagues.
Tovar, who is originally from Venezuela, began his major league career on September 22, 2022, and last year became the youngest opener in Rockies history at age 21. and 240 days. He hit for a .253 average with 15 home runs, 73 RBIs and 11 stolen bases last season.
He also posted a defensive save percentage of .988, surpassing the record for a rookie shortstop (.987) set by Troy Tulowitzki of the Rockies in 2007.