Zambrano and Cubs Agree to Five Year Extension
| 14
|
by Romiezzo
The hot headed fireballer, Carlos Zambrano, just signed a five year extension with the Cubs. The Cubs signed the animated right-handed pitcher to a five-year, $91.5 million contract with a vesting option for a sixth year, presenting him with the highest average salary awarded to a pitcher in a multi-year contract in Major League history.
"We all know there were bigger pots of gold out there for him," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said on Friday when he announced the deal. "It's a great example of a young man talking the talk and walking the walk. He was not leaving the Cubs. This is where he wanted to be. Carlos has always assured me he wanted to stay here and he wanted to win here."
Zambrano would have been a free agent after this season. Now, he has a chance to be one of those rare players who stays with the same team for his entire career. The deal does include a full no-trade clause, and the sixth year would pay him $19.25 million.
"Carlos never wavered in what he wanted to do," Hendry said.
The two sides were close to completing a deal by Opening Day, which Zambrano had asked for. But talks were suspended when the Tribune Co. announced it was selling the ballclub. Zambrano's agent, Barry Praver, said that the Cubs had two unsuccessful attempts at striking a new deal and endured a change in team presidents as well as the sale of the team.
"One thing that has remained constant is Carlos' burning desire to stay with the Cubs," Praver said.
Did Zambrano ever think a deal wouldn't get done?
"No," Zambrano said. "I trust the Cubs and I trust the word Jim Hendry gave to me in Spring Training. He said he'll do everything possible to bring me back and I can stay here. I believed in his word."
"This was a very complicated situation," Hendry said. "It was bad timing -- it's nobody's fault. As tough as it was on Carlos to have the magnitude of the deal not concluded by Opening Day, I never saw in him that he didn't understand why. I'm sure there were frustrations. It would've been a lot easier for him to say, 'I'll give you a good shot in November, but I'm going to see what's out there.' It's a good ending to what we wished we could've finished in March."
Zambrano will receive a $5 million signing bonus. In order for the option year to vest, Zambrano has to finish in first or second place in the Cy Young Award voting in the fourth year of the contract (2011) or finish 1-2-3-4 in the Cy Young voting in the fifth year of the contract. If either situation happens, the option kicks in, and Zambrano then has the choice to either accept or reject the sixth year.
He is currently 14-9 with a 3.86 ERA and is on pace to top 200 innings for the fifth consecutive season. The two-time All-Star has been in the Top 10 in ERA in the NL in each of the last four years and has tied for the league lead in wins in each of the past two. He has also recently struck out his 1000th batter, which is huge, especially for a 26 year old. On top of that, he's a good nine hitter in the National League, as he is probably the best slugging pitcher in baseball right now (close to Dontrelle Willis).
Big move for the Cubs, in my opinion. Zambrano is probably considered the ace of the Cubs' rotation right now, correct me if I'm wrong, and signing him is really big, and is helping the Cubs clubhouse out a lot; maybe not socially, but keeping Big Z on the Cubs is a sign of relief for the Cubs' GM, as he is relying on young starters and trying to keep them on the Cubs. Zambrano may have his ups and downs, but he is definitely the key to winning a lot of ballgames for the Cubs, and right after the All-Star break, he was the main pitcher to keep the Cubs rolling. "Big Z" won National League Pitcher of the Month honors in July with a 5-1, 1.38 ERA month, and is 9-4 since June 1. Should he earn his 15th win on Sunday, Zambrano would lead the National League. Congrats to the Cubs and Zambrano as well. If the Cubs re-sign a couple more of the young pitchers, like Rich Hill, Ted Lilly, etc. the Cubs should be good to go, especially in the NL Central.
