A few weeks ago, Carlos Marmol and the Cubs exchanged figures for arbitration. However, it was rumored at the time that the two sides were in discussions regarding a long-term contract extension, and on Monday, the word is out that Marmol and the Cubs have reached a three-year deal.
Carlos Marmol, Cubs Agree On Three-Year Contract Extension
This deal has long been in the works, and was contingent on Marmol passing a physical exam on Saturday. There’s no word yet on how much he’ll make, but his 2011 salary is expected to be somewhere around $5 million. He earned $2.125 million in 2010, his first year of arbitration eligibility. The three-year contract buys out what would’ve been Marmol’s first year of free agency in 2013.
The 28-year-old Marmol took a big step up last season as he solidified himself as the Cubs’ shutdown closer. Over 77.2 innings, he posted a 2.55 ERA while racking up 38 saves, and his 16.0 K/9 was the second-highest strikeout rate in baseball history, behind only Atlanta’s Craig Kimbrel. Though Marmol isn’t known for his impeccable command and often struggles with walks, he’s so difficult to hit that he seldom gets himself into too much trouble. As long as his shoulder and elbow stay the way they are, there’s no reason to believe he’ll be anything less than successful for the duration of his contract.
Update: the contract is reportedly worth a total of about $20 million.
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