DENVER -- Rockies outfielder Mickey Moniak stopped while leaving the field after batting practice, which meant his wish for Monday afternoon’s Trade Deadline had come true.
Other Deadlines had him hoping his name would crawl across the bottom of your TV screen as breaking news. It happened when he went from the Phillies to the Angels at the 2022 Deadline -- not because he disliked Philadelphia, but opportunity was ahead of him.
But since arriving with the Rockies at the start of last season, he has wanted to stay put.
Turns out the Rockies want him around for longer, as well. Moniak and the club agreed to a two-year, $16.25 million contract extension through 2028, sources told MLB.com. The deal is expected to become official on Tuesday.
Moniak, 28, reached a one-year, $4 million agreement during the winter to avoid arbitration. The contract-to-be would cover his final year of arbitration eligibility plus his first year of free agency. During Monday’s 13-9 loss to the Rays, he celebrated his coming contract with an RBI triple and his 18th homer of the season -- a second-deck, Statcast-projected 431-foot shot to right field.
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“As a human being, I tend to think of myself as a pretty loyal guy, and this organization has truly given a resurgence to my career,” Moniak said, before the first report of his pending extension. “They’ve always shown interest in me, ever since I was in high school [before the Phillies selected him first overall in 2016].
“Something like that means a lot to me. Being here for last year, I know we are taking strides this year to move forward.”
Moniak went 2-for-4 against the Rays to improve to .277 with 49 RBIs. Twice this season, Moniak has finished a single shy of a cycle.
During a press availability to discuss trades the club made, president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta said Moniak is a leader for a team that’s building its future.
“Mickey’s an important part of what we’re doing here,” DePodesta said. “He had a very good year last year. He’s been off to a great start this year. Unfortunately, he missed a little time with the [right ankle] injury, but he’s a legitimate, middle-of-the-order bat for us. He’s a leader in our clubhouse. He’s a veteran who’s been around a little bit longer.
“He’s also been with some different organizations, so he knows what he should look like. He also knows what it shouldn’t look like, which is valuable not just for his peers in the clubhouse but also for me and [manager Warren Schaeffer].”
The Rockies sent center fielder Brenton Doyle to the White Sox, righty reliever Antonio Senzatela to the Brewers and righty reliever Victor Vodnik to the Marlins. All of those deals brought prospects, some on the cusp of the Majors and others early in their careers.
But beyond Doyle, who is being replaced in center field by Cole Carrigg, the Rockies did not disturb an improving position player group. Moniak believes it’s not far from being a winning lineup.
“I feel like it’s moving in the right direction,” Moniak said. “At the end of the day, it’d mean the world for me to be part of a resurgence of Rockies baseball -- be a part of a team that’s chasing October, and further.”