Rockies center fielder Charlie Blackmon was set to hit free agency after this season, but instead the Rockies have locked him up for the next several years with a big-time deal.

The Rockies announced Wednesday afternoon that the two sides had agreed to a deal that starts this season and runs through 2021 with player options for 2022 and 2023. This means it's a four-year deal that Blackmon has the power to make into a six-year deal.

Craig Calcaterra of NBC Sports has the contract breakdown:

That puts the deal at four years and $77 million through 2021. If Blackmon decides to stay put for both player options, it's six years and $108 million with the possibility to get to six years and $116 million.

Blackmon, 31, hit .331/.399/.601 (141 OPS+) with 35 doubles, 14 triples, 37 homers, 104 RBI and 137 runs last season. He led the majors in runs, hits, triples and total bases. He enters Wednesday leading the majors in total bases again, as he's slashing .316/.409/1.053 with four homers in five games.

Now, Blackmon would have been entering his free agency as he headed to his age-32 season, and here are his career home/road splits:

Home: .346/.406/.566

Road: .265/.314/.436

Given the above information while also knowing how free agency went this past offseason, this seems like a very good deal for Blackmon and one that made all the sense in the world for him to sign. Throw in that the Rockies are the only organization he's ever known and his obvious comfort level, and it made this a no-brainer.

By the same token, Blackmon has been an excellent player for the Rockies the past several seasons and they now have certainty with him at the top of the order and in center field for the next few years while trying to remain in contention.

Time will always tell when it comes to deals like this, but it appears we might have a mutually beneficial contract.