Rockies first baseman Ian Desmond throws gifts to fans after Colorado’s final regular season game Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018, at Coors Field in Denver. The Rockies won 12-0 and will play Los Angeles tomorrow in a one-game playoff for the NL West title. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK THE GAZETTE)
The Colorado Rockies have declined the $15 million option on Ian Desmond’s contract and instead will pay him a $2 million buyout, according to a report from MLB Network.
Desmond, 36, signed a five-year deal with the Rockies in 2016 but has opted out of the past two seasons, in order to spend more time with his five children and to give back to his community.
He started Newton Connection, a nonprofit that helps diverse and at-risk youth in Desmond’s hometown of Sarasota County, Florida. He was the Rockies’ nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award last season.
“There’s no better representative than Desi for this award,” manager Bud Black said in September, when the news was announced. “What he’s doing down there in his hometown is pretty special stuff … it’s awesome, I love it. I think Desi is having a blast with this. I think it’s something he’s passionate about.”
Desmond stayed in contact with the team even after he opted out, texting with Black often early last season and keeping in touch with players such as Trevor Story and some in the front office. It’s unknown if he wants to return to baseball, but Black said at the time that he knew it was on Desmond’s mind.
Desmond will now become a free agent if he would like to continue playing. He averaged .251 in three seasons with the Rockies and is a two-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger winner.
Desmond joins Jon Gray, Trevor Story, Jhoulys Chacín and Chris Owings as free agents.
Rockies first baseman Ian Desmond throws gifts to fans after Colorado’s final regular season game Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018, at Coors Field in Denver. The Rockies won 12-0 and will play Los Angeles tomorrow in a one-game playoff for the NL West title. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK THE GAZETTE)Rockies first baseman Ian Desmond visits with his junior Rockies player before the start of the Rockies game against Washington Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018, at Coors Field in Denver. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) (CHRISTIAN MURDOCK THE GAZETTE)Colorado Rockies Ian Desmond walks off the field as the Milwaukee Brewers celebrate winning game 3 of the NLDS at Coors Field on Sunday, October 7, 2018. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)Colorado Rockies left fielder Ian Desmond holds the team’s Roberto Clemente Award after it was presented to him before a baseball game against the New York Mets, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) (David Zalubowski)Colorado Rockies’ Ian Desmond (20) loses his helmet as Cincinnati Reds catcher Curt Casali, right, ducks out of the way during the second inning of a spring training baseball game Tuesday, March 10, 2020, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) (Ross D. Franklin)Colorado Rockies’ Ian Desmond follows the flight of his RBI-double off San Diego Padres starting pitcher Nick Margevicius in the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 16, 2019, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) (David Zalubowski)Colorado Rockies pinch-hitter Ian Desmond follows the flight of his solo home run off Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Mike Montgomery in the seventh inning of a baseball game Monday, June 10, 2019, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) (David Zalubowski)
