One of the major themes of the Chicago Cubs’ 2013 season is whether team management was hasty in awarding long term extensions to shortstop Starlin Castro and first baseman Anthony Rizzo when both were under club control for several more years. On August 28, 2012, the Cubs signed Castro to a seven-year, $53 million contract through 2019 even though he was under club control through the 2016 season.
They followed suit with Rizzo on May 13, 2013 when they signed him to a seven-year, $41 million deal that also runs through the 2019 season. Rizzo would have been under club control through the 2017 season. Castro’s deal averages approximately $7.6 million per season, Rizzo’s $5.9.