The Colorado Rockies locked down their bulllpen core for the next two years, as they signed RHP Matt Belisle to a two year contract valued at $6.125 million.
Belisle had already agreed to a deal earlier this offseason to avoid arbitration, but the Rockies didn’t want to risk Belisle approaching free agency after the 2011 season and decided to negotiate a longer contract.
Belisle had a breakout season in 2010. A former first round draft pick by the Cincinnati Reds, he never found consistency as a starter but blossomed as a late inning reliever for Colorado. His 8.9 K/9 was second in Colorado’s bullpen last year after Rafael Betancourt.
This locks up the Rockies’ bullpen core for the next two seasons, as Huston Street, Rafael Betancourt, and Matt Lindstrom are all signed to deals through the 2012 season. All four players have late inning experience, and together they make up one of the elite bullpens in baseball.