PioneerSkies

The Rockies have signed Matt Holliday to a 2 year $23 million deal. This covers his arbitration years. This is great news. It gives me hope that the Monforts will sign him to a long term deal instead of letting him depart to free agency. Still, a lot can happen in two years...
http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/story/10585235
DENVER -- The Colorado Rockies want to lock up Matt Holliday with a long-term deal. For now, they have settled on two years.
The All-Star left fielder agreed to a $23 million, two-year contract with Colorado on Friday, avoiding arbitration just hours before players and teams exchanged salary figures.
"This is the first step in a process we hope will lead to a long-term relationship with him," Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd said.
Holliday, runner-up for the NL MVP award last season, hit .340 with 137 RBI, becoming the third player since 1967 to lead a league in both categories. He also had 36 home runs and led the NL in hits (216), total bases (386) and doubles (50) while helping the Rockies to their first pennant.
He finished a close second to Jimmy Rollins of the Philadelphia Phillies in MVP balloting.
Holliday, who turned 28 on Tuesday, also earned the NL Championship Series MVP award after hitting .333 with two home runs and four RBI in a four-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
After making $4.4 million last season, Holliday gets $9.5 million this year and $13.5 million in 2009.
Colorado outfielder Willy Taveras also agreed to a contract, a one-year deal worth $1,975,000. Taveras can make $150,000 in performance bonuses; $50,000 each for 500, 550 and 600 plate appearances.
The 26-year-old Taveras provided speed at the top of the lineup for the Rockies last season. He hit .320 and stole 33 bases in 97 games.
"We are excited to come to agreements with both Matt and Willy," O'Dowd said.
The Rockies swapped figures with three players still in arbitration: third baseman Garrett Atkins, reliever Brian Fuentes and outfielder Brad Hawpe.
Atkins asked for $4.65 million while the club offered $4,125,000; Fuentes requested $6.5 million with Colorado countering at $5.05 million; and Hawpe asked for $4.35 million while the Rockies proposed $3,575,000.

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