Rockies, De La Rosa agree to two-year, $25 million extension

Late last night, the Colorado Rockies locked up an anchor in their rotation. 

They have announced that they have agreed to terms with left-handed pitcher Jorge De La Rosa on a two-year contract extension. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports is reporting that De La Rosa will make $25 million in his extension, one that does not include an option year. 

The 33-year-old De La Rosa is currently under contract through this season, in the final year of a four-year, $42.5 million deal that he signed back in December 2010. He was considered to be a trade target for many teams during this past July, but after not being moved, an extension looked to be more likely.

De La Rosa is having a solid year. He is 13-10 with a 4.26 ERA (100 ERA+) in 28 starts. Over his 160.2 innings pitched, De La Rosa has a 119 to 57 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He has a solid 1.239 WHIP on the year, but an underwhelming 4.40 FIP, suggesting that his ERA is actually better than it should be, as it has been helped from defense, good luck, or a combination of both. 

The Rockies rotation has been the second-worst in the major leagues in ERA and worst in FIP. The statistic xFIP (FIP with a league-average home run rate, as home run rates are unsustainable over time), which should consider the Rockies to be better, considering the fact that Coors Field has an unusually high home run rate to begin with, still opines that the Rockies have the second-worst pitching staff in the MLB. 

The Rockies have only had three pitchers -- Franklin Morales, Jordan Lyles, and De La Rosa -- that have accumulated more than 100 innings pitched on the season. De La Rosa has been the only sure thing in their rotation, as his ERA+ (ERA adjusted with park factors) is the only one that is considered league-average (100) or higher. 

The Rockies' season has been a tough one and De La Rosa has been the only pitcher that has been able to produce at even close to the major league average this season. Locking him up longterm is the right thing to do, and for only $12.5 million per year, he is definitely worth it in a league that is heavily weighted on the strength of a teams' rotation. 

---