In his latest contract, which prevented him from joining the masses when the free-agency filing begins this week, Mike DeJean received security beyond his one-year deal.
DeJean will make a base salary of $1.15 million with a $1.5 million mutual option for 2007 with a $150,000 buyout. However, if DeJean is traded, the mutual option converts to a player option, providing protection.
“It was nice to have,” DeJean said. “But this is where I want to be.”
Added Todd Helton on Wednesday, “He’s one of the reasons we played better in the second half. It was important to have him back.”
DeJean is earmarked for duty in the seventh and eighth inning. The Rockies, who have $9 million to spend in free agency, have interest in late-inning relievers Elmer Dessens and Julian Tavarez and starters Shawn Estes and Pedro Astacio.
