In his MLB Insider, Denver Gazette beat writer Luke Zahlmann takes you around the Rockies and MLB:

The financial world looks down on contracts that will age poorly but baseball strays from that assumption.

From Eric Hosmer in San Diego to Albert Pujols in Anaheim, the sport has failed to learn from past mistakes. The large sums handed out have aged poorly in most cases, but the big-market teams who sign them continue to take the risk.

The ability to overspend to make up for a mistake helps.

Colorado’s various front office iterations are no stranger to a poor contract. Kris Bryant’s recent seven-year pact hasn’t aged well and is a continuation of other Rockies’ head-scratching deals. Mike Hampton (eight years, $121 million) and Ian Desmond (five years, $70 million) should’ve been the lesson, but are instead part of a growing list.

It’s a problem leaguewide.

The Yankees signed then-30-year-old Aaron Judge to a nine-year, $360 million deal in 2022. It was lauded as a win for the franchise after it outbid San Francisco, among others. Jacoby Ellsbury’s seven-year, $153 million should’ve been the warning New York needed but is also part of a growing list.

Odds aren’t in New York’s favor that Judge will age gracefully into his late-30’s. He only played 106 games in 2023 and has only played more than 140 games three times in his nine-year career — the first was abbreviated and only included 27 after his August debut.

Juan Soto’s deal will certainly be the second-largest in league history behind Shohei Ohtani, and the Yankees may be hit with the bill if they decide to offer it.

Even extensions of homegrown players have gone wayward. Mike Trout’s extension was the largest in league history when he signed it in 2019. The 12-year, $426.5 million deal has gone awry because of health. His 119 games in 2022 were the most since it was signed, and he has played fewer than 82 games every other season since the deal’s signing.

Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw all signed extensions that aged well, but are in rarified air.

The league hasn’t learned from its past mistakes. Free agents waiting for deals in recent years — like Blake Snell after a 2023 NL Cy Young season — will continue to happen for players with spotty résumés. Those with significant past production will continue to receive deals that will inevitably age poorly.

It’s the major-league way.

What I’m hearing: 

— Germán Márquez’s return could be before the All-Star break.

Manager Bud Black commented on the starter’s status after throwing another bullpen at “85 percent” on Tuesday. He is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and is a year out from his surgery in May 2023. The starter said he had targeted a post-All-Star-break return, but his skipper is more positive.

“He threw the ball well. He’s excited, you can tell by the smile on his face,” Black said. “It’ just a matter of time. (His return) could be in front of (the All-Star break). I don’t want to put any timetable on it, but we’ll see how it goes.”

The right-handed starter’s last full season was 2022 and he put together a 4.95 earned run average in 31 starts — 4.40 and 3.75 marks preceded the figure in the previous two seasons.

Colorado’s starting pitching has been its greatest strength in 2024 and may get stronger by adding a key rotation piece soon. Kyle Freeland will beat him back, and the two could complete a formidable rotation around Austin Gomber, Can Quantrill and Ryan Feltner.

— Angel Hernandez is retiring, and several fanbases are rejoicing.

The 30-plus-year umpire is much-maligned for his missed calls behind the plate and in the field. He had three calls reversed in the first four innings of a playoff game in 2018 and even attempted to sue the league for racial discrimination in 2017 when he was replaced on long-time umpire Lance Barksdale’s crew.

Most recently, he called Wyatt Langford out on three consecutive pitches out of the zone. The last of the trio was multiple balls off the plate and drew viral criticism. Even his retirement was unanimously applauded through various media channels.

Fans watched baseball without him in 2023 after Hernandez missed most of the season with back issues. He hasn’t officiated a game since May 9 and the trend will continue.

What I’m seeing: 

— Baseball loses a portion of its flare without Ronald Acuña Jr. and will have to face the issue again in 2024.

He fell victim to a non-contact injury in Atlanta’s win Sunday. Scans after the game revealed a fully torn ACL in his left knee. The outfielder missed the Braves’ 2021 World Series run after he tore the same ligament in his right knee.

Acuña earned NL most valuable player honors in 2023 after a historic season. He stole 73 bases and hit 41 home runs as the previous knee injury entered the rearview mirror. He’ll miss the rest of 2024 and likely be less than 100% once 2025 starts.

The sport is worse off because of it.

— Colorado was happier when Luis Arráez was in Miami. 

The infielder was dealt to division foe San Diego on May 4 and has continued to terrorize opposing pitchers. He has as many extra-base hits (14) as strikeouts in 2024 and leads the league in hits (76). 

He won’t be a free agent until 2026 and has hit leadoff for the Padres since being acquired. Former Rockies’ switch hitter Jurickson Profar is also having a career year for them after a wayward year in Colorado in 2023. 

Each figure to be a nightmare for opposing pitchers moving forward and will have six more chances to impact Rockies’ pitchers in 2024. Arráez will have 13 additional opportunities in 2025. 

Minor League Minute

— Adael Amador woke up with a bang for Double-A Hartford.

He has struggled with the Yard Goats this season but collected five hits and two home runs in Hartford’s explosive 17-12 loss to Double-A Portland on Saturday. He hit another long ball Sunday and looks to be rebounding.

The Rockies’ top prospect’s average is up to .179 and has shown good discipline at the plate. Despite the average, he has a 32-to-31 strikeout-to-walk ratio and has the speed-power combination that intrigued Colorado.

More games like Saturday’s will put him on a faster track to Coors Field.

— Peyton Burdick made Triple-A Louisville history last week.

He hit a 500-foot home run for the Bats and set the club’s home stadium record for the longest in its history. Babe Ruth is said to have the sport’s record with a 575-foot home run in 1921, though it’s based on an estimate from historian Bill Jenkinson rather than Statcast. 

The List

Largest free-agent contracts in MLB history (by total guarantees)

1. Shohei Ohtani (LAD) – 10 years, $700 million

2. Aaron Judge (NYY) – nine years, $360 million

3. Bryce Harper (PHI) – 13 years, $330 million

T-4. Corey Seager (TEX) – 10 years, $325 million

T-4. Yoshinobu Yamamoto (LAD) – 12 years, $325 million

6. Gerrit Cole (NYY) – nine years, $324 million

T-7. Manny Machado (SDP) – 10 years, $300 million

T-7. Trea Turner (PHI) – 11 years, $300 million

9. Xander Bogaerts (SDP) – 11 years, $280 million

10. Alex Rodriguez (NYY) 10 years, $275 million