Charlie Blackmon exercises player option, will return to Rockies in 2022, per report

Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon has exercised his player option and will return to Colorado next season, per MLB Network’s Jon Heyman:

Blackmon just finished the four guaranteed years of his long-term deal with the Rockies but had player options in both 2022 and ‘23. He’ll earn $21,333,333 next season, but his salary will drop to $18,333,334 in 2023 if he exercises his second option.

This isn’t a surprising decision for the 35-year-old Blackmon, who was once one of the most electrifying contact hitters in baseball and won the NL batting title in 2017. He’s regressed in recent seasons and posted a 96 OPS+ in 2021, his worst in a season since he played 42 games for the Rockies in 2012, while hitting 13 homers, his fewest in a 162-game season since he hit six in 2013. He posted a .270/.351/.411 slash line in 2021 with -3 defensive runs saved in right field.

Blackmon, a .300/.359/.495 career hitter, will provide a veteran presence to a rebuilding Rockies team in 2022. Unless the Rockies make a significant addition in the outfield, he figures to see a lion’s share of the playing time in right field, with Raimel Tapia, Garrett Hampson, Connor Joe, and Sam Hilliard currently being Colorado’s other most notable outfield options.