On Thursday, the Milwaukee Brewers organization announced that they will extend star-outfielder Ryan Braun’s contract through 2020.
The deal is worth $105 million for five years on top of the seven-year deal he signed in 2008 (seven years and $45 million). That’s right, Braun will rake in $145.5 million over the next nine seasons.
“This is an historic occasion for our franchise and for our fans, knowing that we were able to make Ryan’s desire to wear a Brewers uniform for the long term a reality,” said Brewers Owner Mark Attanasio.
Braun busted on the scene in 2007 as one of the Brewers top prospects out of the 2005 Amateur Draft. Since then, the hard-hitting outfielder has started three All-Star Games and become one of only five players ever to hit 125 home-runs and hit over .300 in their first four years in the majors.
Braun aspires to be like Brewers great Robin Yount and play his entire career out in Milwaukee.
“There really aren’t many guys that’ve spent their entire careers with one team,” said Braun.
“I’m proud of saying that I’ve been a part of a group of guys here who have come in here and tried to kind of change the culture and get back to having the perception of being a winning organization, when guys like Robin Yount played here, Gorman Thomas, Paul Molitor, Jim Gantner, when all those guys were here, it was a special place to play.”
Braun joins Alex Rodriguez and Joe Mauer as the only players in MLB history to receive a deal averaging at least $20 million a year under the age of 27.
He also receives a signing bonus of $10 million and is only the second player in the league to be signed through 2020. Troy Tulowitzki of the Colorado Rockies being the other.
Owner Attanasio has spent a lot of money signing core players Braun, Rickie Weeks, Yovani Gallardo and Corey Hart. Will there be enough in the bank for Prince Fielder who will be a free agent in 2012?
Braun is not sure, but he thinks the first-baseman would love to stay in Milwaukee.
“I know Prince enjoys it here. That’s a fact that’s undisputed,” Braun said. “We’ve never had more fun playing together than we have since the beginning of spring training. We’re really just enjoying baseball right now. I know this is a place he would love to stay,” said Braun.
Braun is currently hitting .358 with four home-runs and has the Brewers just a half-game back of the division leading Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals.
What do you think of Braun’s new blockbuster deal? Let me know by commenting below!
Nick Grays is a senior editor at the Sports Bank where he covers the Wisconsin Badgers, Green Bay Packers, and Milwaukee Brewers. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here or visit his blog Nick Knows Best.