The Chicago Cubs and first baseman Anthony Rizzo have agreed to a seven-year, $41 million deal, according to ESPN. Rizzo's agent, Marc Pollack, confirmed the deal to ESPNChicago.com.
The new deal includes two club options at the back end of the contract that could make it worth as much as $73 million over nine years. The 23-year-old is considered by many within the organization as the one of the centerpieces of the franchise's rebuilding process.
Rizzo is currently hitting .280 with a .352 on-base percentage. He also has nine home runs and 28 RBIs during his third season of major league service.
Rizzo gets a $2 million signing bonus, of which $250,000 is payable within 30 days of the contract's approval by Major League Baseball and $1.75 million is payable next Jan. 15. He receives a $750,000 salary this year, up from $498,000 under the agreement he reached in March.
From then on, Rizzo will earn $1.25 million next year, $5 million apiece in 2015 and 2016, $7 million each in 2017 and 2018 and $11 million in 2019.
The Cubs have a $14.5 million option for 2020 with a $2 million buyout. If that is exercised, Chicago will have a $14.5 million for 2021 with a $2 million buyout.
If an option is declined, the buyout is payable the following Jan. 15. If he wins the NL MVP or finishes among the top five in MVP voting at least twice, his 2019 salary increases to $12 million and the option prices go up to $16.5 million.
Rizzo has spent time with the San Diego Padres and Triple-A Tucson before being acquired by Chicago during the 2012 season in exchange for Andrew Cashner. He played in 87 games for the Cubs last year while splitting his time with Triple-A Iowa.
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