The Colorado Rockies didn’t want to have another young star slip through their fingers and end up being traded away like Matt Holliday. That is why the Rockies gave All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki a seven-year, $134 million contract extension.

Tulowitzki was still under contract with Colorado for three more years, but was rewarded for his loyalty and eagerness to remain with the Rockies instead of going to a bigger market. Now Tulowitzki’s mullet will be covered with a Colorado Rockies hat until 2020.

Tulowitzki won the National League Gold Glove at shortstop, was in contention for the batting title (.315 BA) and also won a National League Silver Slugger award despite missing 40 games in 2010, 33 of those games with a broken wrist.

After returning from the wrist injury, Tulo went on a Pujols-esque tear during the month of September, crushing 15 homeruns and 40 RBI while slugging .800 in the process.

The mega-deal only reinforces Tulowitzki’s expectations of the possibilities of the Rockies.

“We’re going to win here. We’re going to do it,” Tulowitzki said. “We’ve got a good team here. If we don’t win a World Series around here, then it’s a failure. I have high expectations, and we’re going to meet them.”

With the 26-year-old Tulowitzki under contract for another decade, the Rockies have a chance do something really special and have the face of the franchise to build around.

 

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