Source: Wade Davis agrees to 3-year, $52M deal with Rockies

ByABC News
December 29, 2017, 1:05 PM

— -- Right-handed reliever Wade Davis, who saved 32 games for the Chicago Cubs last season, has agreed to a deal with the Colorado Rockies, a source told ESPN's Jerry Crasnick, confirming multiple reports.

Davis' agreement is for three years and $52 million, a source told Crasnick. The contract includes a vesting player option that can increase the value to four years and $66 million if Davis finishes 30 games in 2020 and picks up his option, a source said.

Sources said the Cubs were willing to go only two years in a deal to bring back Davis, who had a near-perfect season as a closer in 2017, blowing a save opportunity for the first time late in September. He set a career high in saves while sporting a 2.30 ERA.

Davis is the third significant free-agent bullpen signing this winter for the Rockies, who previously added Bryan Shaw and Jake McGee on three-year, $27 million contracts. Greg Holland, who saved 41 games this season, declined a $15 million option in November and became a free agent.

Rockies manager Bud Black and pitching coach Steve Foster played a significant role in recruiting Davis to Colorado, said a source. Foster was a coach in the? Kansas City Royals?organization when Davis joined the Royals in 2013, and he has since moved on to become Colorado's pitching coach.

Davis, 32, reached free agency after three solid years as a closer, two with Kansas City and the last with the Cubs. The former starter is often credited with still pitching with a starter's mentality, as he'll use his breaking stuff to set up his fastball as much as the other way around.

Like many closers, he often walked a tightrope but rarely gave in. Also, like many top closers, he proved capable of going multiple innings in a playoff situation, though sometimes with mixed results.

Davis' agreement with the Rockies was first reported by Yahoo! Sports.

Information from ESPN's Jesse Rogers was used in this report.