The long-awaited contract extension for Starlin Castro will keep the young shortstop on the north side through the 2019 season, with a $16 million option for 2020.  The Cubs hope that they will get a deal by buying out Castro’s arbitration and first few free agent years.  They must also hope that a player who has had attention lapses in the past will not rest on his now very expensive laurels.

The Cubs have spent a lot of money the last few years to shed the long term contracts that helped bring them back-to-back division championships.  They still have been unable to move Alfonso Soriano’s albatross of a contract.  You can only hope that Castro continues to improve and does not become the latest in a string of disappointing long term deals.