The Colorado Rockies have signed 3B Casey Blake to a one-year, $2 million contract according to Thomas Harding of MLB.com. Blake can earn an extra $1 million in performance based incentives.

Blake was limited to just 63 games last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers because of a back injury. In those 63 games, Blake hit .252/.342/.371 with four HR’s in 239 PA’s. In the two years prior, Blake was one of the best third basemen in baseball. From 2009 to 2010, Blake had a higher WAR (8.0) than David Wright, Pablo Sandoval, and Michael Young.

This is a pretty good low-risk, high-reward signing by the Rockies. If Blake at the age of 39 can return to his 2010 form (.248/.320/.407 with 17 HR’s and a 6.8 UZR at third), then the Rockies will have themselves a pretty good bargain in Blake. If Blake can’t give it a go, then $2 million won’t bankrupt the Rockies anytime soon.

With this deal, Seth Smith better not renew his lease on his apartment for 2012. He’s as good as gone in Colorado. Blake will now be at third and Michael Cuddyer will be in right. Look for the Rockies to trade Smith for some pitching help.

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By The Baseball Index