We’ve been fapping for Anthony Rizzo for quite a while. Can he hit left-handed pitching consistently? Is he really the first baseman of the future? Did the Cubs win the Andrew Cashner trade? Is he Adam Dunn? (No, he isn’t)
It’s not a surprise then to see this:
Sources: #Cubs agree with Rizzo on 7-year, $41 million contract. Deal runs from 2013 through ’19. Story coming on Foxsports.com.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) May 13, 2013
Imagine that. This is an awesome deal, very similar to the extensions that were signed by players such as Starlin Castro and Chris Sale, and modeled after the Evan Longoria Special. Essentially the idea is to lock up a young player at a discounted cost through his formative and early prime years and allow his production to more than pay for that contract. The details are in Ken Rosenthal’s column.
Key terms:
- Seven years, $41MM which covers rest of rookie contract including all four arbitration years (Rizzo is a Super Two), plus one free agent year to keep Rizzo under control through 2019;
- Two club options tacked on at the end to control through 2021, putting total value of deal at $73MM given certain escalators (not yet specified);
- Extension now means Rizzo gets paid more during the 2013 season as part of the terms
Rosenthal also mentioned the possible extensions of Jeff Samardzija, who rebuffed the Cubs this offseason in favor of going year-to-year, and Matt Garza, who is still rehabbing but is on track to return by the end of May.
For a team that was reportedly short on funds, they sure know how to pull off a pleasant surprise.
Update: This is no surprise per Theo/Jed standard operating procedure, but if he does well, they’re not gonna trade Anthony Rizzo anyway:
theres no no-trade provision in rizzo deal. #cubs
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) May 13, 2013
Also:
the rizzo deal (including 2 cubs options) is actually worth $68M for 9 since theres a $2M buyout.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) May 13, 2013
Agent Marc Pollak confirms deal as well…can make up to 73 mil….
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) May 13, 2013