Thomas Harding of MLB.com is reporting that the Colorado Rockies are nearing a two-year extension with outfielder Mickey Moniak.
A former first overall pick of the Philadelphia Phillies in 2016, Moniak struggled to find his footing in his first few big league seasons. He was eventually traded by the Phillies to the Los Angeles Angels, where he had a career year in 2023.
However, after a down year in 2024, Moniak was released by the Angels during spring training prior to the 2025 season. The Rockies then swept in and signed him to a Major League deal.
Moniak, now 28, has developed into an important contributor on this Rockies team. While it cannot be denied that he was a defensive liability in 2025, his bat was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise miserable season. Moniak hit .270/.306/.518 with a career high 24 home runs and 68 RBIs.
Although he missed the start of the 2026 season with a hand injury, Moniak got off to a strong start when his year began. In his first 43 games he hit .280/.335/.607 with nine doubles, two triples, 12 home runs, and 28 RBIs. He was then sidelined with right ankle tendonitis for just over a month, but since returning he has continued to be a key offensive player. Coming into Monday night’s trade deadline, Moniak was hitting .273/.317/.547 with 17 home runs. He has also played fairly solid—if unremarkable—defense in left field.
Moniak was one of several names linked to trade rumors at the deadline, but ended up not being moved. Now we know why.
“I think Mickey’s an important part of what we’re doing here,” Rockies president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta said in a media availability following the deadline.
“Again, he had a very good year last year. I think he’s been off to a great start this year. Unfortunately, missed a little time with the injuries, but he is a legitimate middle-of-the-order bat for us. He’s a leader in our in our clubhouse. He’s a veteran. He’s been around a little bit longer. He’s also been in some different organizations, so he he knows what it should look like. He also knows sometimes maybe what it shouldn’t look like, which is just as valuable, and that’s important not just for his peers in the clubhouse, but also for me and for Schaeff as we try to shape our culture here. So I think Mickey’s value, both on on the field and off the field, is really important to us.”
The terms of Moniak’s extension are not yet public, but would buy out his final year of arbitration in 2027 and his first year of free agency in 2028. A formal announcement is expected some time tomorrow.
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