TUCSON, Ariz. - Brad Hawpe and Colorado agreed Tuesday to a $17,425,000, three-year contract, making the right fielder the fourth key Rockies player to receive a longterm deal following the team's first World Series appearance last October.

Brad Hawpe, shown in this 2008 file photo, and Colorado agreed Tuesday March 4, 2008 to a $17,425,000, three-year contract, making the right fielder the fourth key Rockies player to receive a longterm deal following the team's first World Series appearance last October. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

The deal, which includes a club option for 2011, replaces the $3,925,000, one-year contract that had been agreed to in January.

"I think the Rockies have made a good commitment to the players and I think the players have worked hard to build up the franchise," Hawpe said. "I think there's a good thing going on here, not just the players and the front office, but everyone involved all the way through the minor league system."

The 28-year-old Hawpe hit .291 last year with 29 homers and 116 RBIs. He slumped against left-handed pitching for much of the summer, giving Ryan Spilborghs more playing time, although he finished strong against lefties down the stretch.

Hawpe hit .377 with runners in scoring position with two outs. He went 9-for-20 with the bases loaded, including his first career grand slam.

Colorado also recently agreed to longterm deals with right-hander Aaron Cook ($34.5 million over four years), shortstop Troy Tulowitzki ($31 million over six years) and closer Manny Corpas ($8,025,000 over four years).

Left fielder Matt Holliday agreed to a $23 million, two-year deal, covering his arbitration eligibility. The next candidate for a multiyear deal could be third baseman Garrett Atkins.

"I think it's another step in the right direction," Tulowitzki said of Hawpe's deal. "There are some guys out there still I would like to play with for the years remaining on my contract, but they're definitely taking the right approach and getting guys locked up."

"The goal is to go to and win a World Series," he said. "We proved we're capable of getting there and showed how close we are, so they stepped up and are showing they want to keep us together."

While providing the Rockies with cost certainty in coming years, the deals provide security for the players at what could be bargain prices should they continue to progress at the same rate they have.

"You've got to make sacrifices to make things work," Hawpe said. "I think the Rockies made some sacrifices and I think the players have made sacrifices instead of going out to find better deals. ... Sometimes you just have to be happy with where you're at and I think we're all happy to be playing with each other."