The deal finally is done.
Cubs right-hander Carlos Zambrano has agreed to a five-year, $91.5 million contact extension. The deal, which includes a $19.25 million player option for a sixth year, gives Zambrano the highest average salary ever awarded to a pitcher on a multi-year contract.
It also gives him the highest average salary in Cubs history, surpassing left fielder Alfonso Soriano, who signed an eight-year, $136 million, free-agent contract last off-season.
Zambrano, 26, was eligible for free agency at the end of the season, and almost certainly would have surpassed the seven-year, $126 million deal that the Giants awarded left-hander Barry Zito last off-season.
The original five-year deal between Zambrano and the Cubs was worth slightly more than $80 million. But the sale of the team delayed the completion of an agreement, and since then Zambrano has emerged as a Cy Young contender, raising his price.
Zambrano, 26, will be eligible for free agency again at 31, giving him the possibility of landing a second monster deal while still relatively close to his prime.
His signing removes by far the most accomplished pitcher from this winter's free-agent market. Red Sox right-hander Curt Schilling, Diamondbacks right-hander Livan Hernandez, Phillies right-hander Kyle Lohse are among the other free agents who will be available.
Zambrano is 14-9 with a 3.86 ERA this season, 78-51 with a 3.37 ERA lifetime.
The Cubs were Finally Able to make the smart move and re-sign Carlos Zambrano. Zambrano has faltered in his quest to win the National League Cy Young Awward Recently, going winless in his last three starts. Zambrano has the stuff of any of the best pitchers in the game, and he can hit as well. He tied the Cubs Season Record for Homeruns by a Pitcher last year! Good Move by the Cubs getting him signed before he would have walked away to another team willing to pay him Barry Zito-esque money (How's that money working for Zito anyway? He's a double digit loser now in the National League after coming over from the American League.)
Good to see the Cubs continue to improve the team.
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