SportsPulse: Handing out the year-end awards to the sports world. USA TODAY Sports
Closer Wade Davis, one of the most coveted free agent relievers, agreed to a three-year, $52 million deal with the Colorado Rockies on Friday.
The deal is the highest per-year salary in history for a relief pitcher, with his $17.3 million average topping New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman ($17.2 million).
Davis made $10 million last season with the Chicago Cubs in his third consecutive All-Star campaign. The 32-year-old recorded a 2.30 ERA and 1.14 WHIP, with 79 strikeouts in 58 ⅔ innings. Davis saved 32 games.
The deal carries a fourth-year vesting player option that increases the contract to $66 million if Davis finishes 30 games in 2020, according to reports.
Colorado has also signed relievers Jake McGee and Bryan Shaw to three-year, $27 million deals this offseason.
Davis is expected to take over as the Rockies' closer, a role occupied last season by Greg Holland, who is a free agent.
Gallery: Sports champions of 2017
![Houston Astros, World Series]()
1 of 49![NCAA women's basketball, South Carolina.]()
2 of 49![Toronto FC, MLS Cup]()
3 of 49![Florda, men's track and field (outdoor)]()
4 of 49![Roger Federer, Australian Open]()
5 of 49![Josef Newgarden, IndyCar championship]()
6 of 49![Clemson, football national championship (2016-17 season)]()
7 of 49![Stanford, soccer]()
8 of 49![Utah, skiing]()
9 of 49![Oregon, women's track and field (outdoor)]()
10 of 49![West Virginia, rifle]()
11 of 49![Maryland, NCAA lacrosse]()
12 of 49![Maryland, NCAA lacrosse]()
13 of 49![Denver, ice hockey]()
14 of 49![Oklahoma, Women's College World Series]()
15 of 49![Penn State, wrestling]()
16 of 49![Penn State, rugby]()
17 of 49![Washington, rowing]()
18 of 49![Texas A&M, track and field (indoor)]()
19 of 49![Ohio State University, men's volleyball]()
20 of 49![North Carolina, NCAA basketball championship]()
21 of 49![Chelsea, English Premier League]()
22 of 49![Serena Williams, Australian Open]()
23 of 49![Real Madrid, Champions League]()
24 of 49![Florida, College World Series]()
25 of 49![Rafael Nada, U.S. Open]()
26 of 49![Japan, Little League World Series]()
27 of 49![Takuma Sato, Indy 500]()
28 of 49![Brooks Koepka, U.S. Open]()
29 of 49![Roger Federer, Wimbledon]()
30 of 49![In-Kyung Kim, British Open]()
31 of 49![Anna Nordqvist, Evian Championship]()
32 of 49![Anthony Joshua, boxing, heavyweight championship]()
33 of 49![Jelena Ostapenko, French Open]()
34 of 49![Danielle Kang, PGA Championship]()
35 of 49![Kurt Busch, Daytona 500]()
36 of 49![Martin Truex Jr., NASCAR Cup Championship]()
37 of 49![Golden State Warriors, NBA championship]()
38 of 49![New England Patriots, Super Bowl]()
39 of 49![Pittsburgh Penguins, Stanley Cup]()
40 of 49![Justin Thomas, PGA Championship]()
41 of 49![Jordan Spieth, The Open Championship]()
42 of 49![Sergio Garcia, The Masters]()
43 of 49![Justin Thomas, FedExCup]()
44 of 49![Rafael Nada, French Open]()
45 of 49![Sloan Stephens, U.S. Open]()
46 of 49![Garbine Muguruza, Wimbledon]()
47 of 49![Minnesota Lynx, WNBA championship]()
48 of 49![Sung Hyun Park, U.S. Women's Open.]()
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