Updated: 10:45 p.m.
With the focus of the Cubs management team of Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer clearly on a long term plan of overhauling the Cubs organization, nearly every move they have made since taking control of the team has been with a vision towards the future.
With that approach in mind, two industry sources who have represented several MLB players over the past decade confirmed to me tonight that the Cubs are working on a long term deal for star shortstop Starlin Castro.
I spoke with Paul Kinzer, Castro's agent, Thursday night and he confirmed the two sides have been discussing a deal.
"Yes, we have been talking," Kinzer said. "Starlin loves being a Chicago Cub and would like to play there his entire career. I'd prefer to negotiate privately with the Cubs, but yes, we have been talking about a long-term deal."
The deal, which could be six or more years in length, is expected to be finalized before the end of the 2012 season and would not only buy out the remaining arbitration years that Castro has, but at least two years of free agency which he will reach after the 2016 season.
?If Castro continues to develop into one of the best shortstops in baseball and he reaches free agency in four years, he will be unbelievably expensive to retain for the Cubs," the source told me. "This is very smart business by Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer. They will know what their costs are for a significant amount of time going forward and for Castro, he will have lifetime security rather than going year-to-year during arbitration until he completes six full years in the game."
Another baseball source believes that the deal was essential because the Cubs brought Castro to the big leagues too soon in the 2010 season and that allowed him to reach Super Two arbitration status, which could have been alleviated had the Cubs waited just a few more weeks that season.
?That decision was crazy because that Cubs team was going nowhere," he told me. "I understand that the Cubs were trying to save the season in 2010 but it certainly raised eyebrows around the game and it is costing the Cubs a lot of money that they shouldn?t have had to spend."
The deal is a no-brainer for both sides but if Castro wants to truly maximize the amount of money he makes, he would take the risk of going year-to-year. However, he has always maintained how much he likes being a Cub, so it is not a surprise that he would be willing to sign a long-term deal.
Tags: Theo Epstein, Chicago Cubs, Starlin Castro, David Kaplan, Jed Hoyerlouisville lotto numbers susan powell megamillions winners university of louisville louisville ky final four
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