Rockies' Ian Desmond: Signs five-year deal with Rockies

Desmond agreed to a five-year, $70 million contract with the Rockies on Wednesday, FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports.

Analysis:

There could be another shoe or two to drop, as it's unclear where Desmond will see everyday at-bats on this current Rockies roster; however, he will certainly be in the lineup every day, one way or another. Carlos Gonzalez and Charlie Blackmon have long been rumored as potential trade candidates, which would be one way to open up a spot for Desmond. Another option would be finally transitioning Gonzalez to first base, which would also open up a spot in the outfield. Rosenthal speculates that Desmond will play some first base this season, although that would seem to be a waste of his defensive versatility. This is obviously an excellent development for Desmond's fantasy value, as Coors Field is notorious for boosting batting averages, and that's the one aspect of Desmond's game that has been unreliable in recent seasons. The lone negative is that Desmond now appears unlikely to move back to shortstop anytime soon, with Trevor Story entrenched there in Colorado. This signing means the Rockies will forfeit the No. 11 pick in next year's draft, which is a steep price to pay. The deal comes with a $13 million club option for a sixth year.