Desmond at 1st could work for Rockies

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The Rockies have agreed to terms with Ian Desmond.

Message delivered. The Rockies are not looking at the future. The focus is on here and now.

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If the decision to hire Bud Black, with a big league managerial resume, wasn’t statement enough, the fact that the Rockies agreed to sign free agent Desmond to a what is reportedly a five-year, $70 million deal, pending a physical, on Wednesday should provide the exclamation point.

It’s the second-biggest free-agent contract in franchise history — the biggest ever given a position player. Left-hander Mike Hampton was given an eight-year, $121 million deal before the 2001 season.

Most importantly, though, it’s a five-year deal that fills an immediate need — the vacancy at first base — while also providing long-term flexibility.

First base? Yes. OK, so Desmond has never played first in his professional career. But he is athletic, and as he showed last year with the Rangers, he is versatile.

After playing shortstop for the bulk of his seven seasons with the Nationals, Desmond made a seamless transition to the outfield with the Rangers last year; after opening the season in left field, he became so entrenched in center that when Delino DeShields returned from a Minor League refresher course, Desmond remained in center field for the eventual American League …

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