Troy Tulowitzki Inks 10 Year Deal

Nothing is final but the Rockies and Troy Tulowitzki are finalizing a 6-year extension (on top of his current contract) that will keep Tulowitzki in Colorado until, wait for it, 2020!

I got his number, I got his jump
throw, now I got his contract!

In 2008 Tulowitzki signed a 6 year $31M deal.  With the new deal the Rockies will exercise his 2014 option ($15M) and then add on an additional 6 years totalling almost $120M.  

Troy Tulowitzki is one of the best players in the game, but what is the rush to sign him now especially while he still has 4 (team friendly) years left on his current contract?  It's not like Tulowitzki is the epitome of health either as he missed 40 games this year and 61 games in 2008.   It would be one thing if the Rockies were buying out some of Tulo's arbitration years or if Tulo was a free agent, but there is no sensible reason to extend Tulo for 6 more years while he's already locked up for the next 4 years.

The Rockies had one of the most team friendly contracts in baseball and have decided to forfeit that edge by committing themselves to one player for the next 10 years.  In 2000 this move was the norm, in 2010 it's unheard of. 

In the midst of all the Jeter hooplah, I was wondering if the Jeter brass were stuck in a time machine set to 2000 because that is the only scenario in which Jeter's demands at the moment would seem normal.  When Derek Jeter and agent Casey Close wake up tomorrow and read the headlines, they'll have no reason to expect otherwise.  But they'll still be crazy to now want more than the 25 year old who is in his prime.

I'm struggling to wrap my head around this one and I'm not sure if a night of sleep will help, but expect more tomorrow.