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CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs have viewed Anthony Rizzo as a part of their future since they acquired him. Now hes locked in. The slugging first baseman and the Cubs agreed Monday to a $41 million, seven-year contract that could be worth up to $68 million over nine seasons. "We believe in Anthony," general manager Jed Hoyer said. "We think hes going to be a very big part of our future here in Chicago, and were excited to get a deal done. The 23-year-old is hitting .280 with a .352 on-base percentage. He also has nine home runs and 28 RBIs in his third major league season. Rizzo realized that he was taking "maybe a little bit of a discount now" but said "its security for now and its a huge weight off my shoulder, my familys shoulders, my kids shoulders, my grandkids shoulders." Hoyer said talks for a new deal began with about two weeks left in spring training but were halted before opening day. They restarted less than two weeks ago. Rizzo gets a $2 million signing bonus, of which $250,000 is payable within 30 days of the contracts approval by Major League Baseball and $1.75 million is payable next Jan. 15. He receives a $750,000 salary this year, up from $498,000 under the agreement he reached in March. He then will earn $1.25 million next year, $5 million apiece in 2015 and 2016, $7 million each in 2017 and 2018 and $11 million in 2019. Chicago has a $14.5 million option for 2020 with a $2 million buyout. If that is exercised, the Cubs will have a $14.5 million for 2021 with a $2 million buyout. "This day has come so fast," Rizzo said. "Looking back on it, when I was a young kid dreaming of this day, its a surreal moment." With chairman Tom Ricketts and president of baseball operations Theo Epstein watching, the Cubs announced a deal that has the highest average annual value ($5,857,143) for a position player with less than two years of major league service. Among pitchers in that service group, Seattles Hisashi Iwakuma ($7 million), Torontos Ricky Romero ($6.02 million) and San Franciscos Madison Bumgarner ($5,592,667) have higher averages. "I think its a great matchup for both sides," Hoyer said. "It is unusual that it is early, but I think our knowledge of Anthony and our belief in him as a person makes that possible." Hoyer declined to say if the Cubs are negotiating new deals with other players, but said he "certainly" hopes there are others who follow Rizzo. Rizzo was selected out of high school in the sixth round of the 2007 amateur draft by Boston, a time when Epstein and Hoyer were running the Red Sox front office. Hoyer was the Padres general manager when San Diego dealt for Rizzo. He was treated for Hodgkins lymphoma in 2008 and played only 21 games that season. He recovered, became a top prospect and was dealt to San Diego in December 2010 as part of the Adrian Gonzalez trade. Rizzo then played 49 games for the Padres in 2011 but struggled, hitting .141 with one homer and RBIs. He was traded to Chicago in January 2012 for Andrew Cashner. Rizzo was batting just .173 heading into the game at Miami on April 26. He hit a 420-foot home run to centre and a 413-foot shot to the upper deck in right field that day for his second career two-homer game. It also gave him eight for the season, the most by a Cubs left-handed hitter in April. Last August, the Cubs gave shortstop Starlin Castro a $60 million, seven-year contract. "I feel happy because I feel like I have him and me for a long time here," Castro said. And manager Dale Sveum thought the deal bodes well for a team without a World Series title since 1908. Its pretty important to all of us, the city, the organization, to have somebody like that locked up for that long," he said. NOTES: If an option is declined, the buyout is payable the following Jan. 15. If he wins the NL MVP or finishes among the top five in MVP voting at least twice, his 2019 salary increases to $12 million and the option prices go up to $16.5 million. In addition, if he finishes among the top two in NL MVP voting in any year through 2019 and then is traded, he can void the 2021 option. Rizzo also gets a hotel suite for road trips. His deal was negotiated by agent Marc Pollack of Sports One Athlete Management.Custom St. Louis Cardinals Nike Jerseys .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. Custom Minnesota Twins Nike Jerseys . The mixed zone is not a place to make friends. https://www.custombaseballnikejerseys.com/?tag=custom-baltimore-orioles-nike-jerseys .2 billion agreement with Rogers Communications for the leagues broadcast and multimedia rights. Stitched Custom Nike Baseball Jerseys . - Oakland Raiders running back Rashad Jennings was speaking to a group of local high school students earlier this week when the conversation turned to the importance of being prepared when opportunities in life arise. Custom Philadelphia Phillies Nike Jerseys . -- Ryan Blaney provided more evidence that Penske Racings No.Nico Hulkenberg says the mega lap which put him fifth on the grid for the Mexican Grand Prix saw him extract the maximum from the car.Hulkenberg looked strong during FP2 on Friday and built on that in qualifying, splitting Red Bull and Ferrari for a place on the third row on the grid.My first lap in Q3 was quite mega, I dont think there was anything more I could squeeze out of there, he said. All in all, just a really good qualifying.The German driver, who had only been ninth in FP3 on Saturday morning, says his car found pace as the day progressed.I think the car just got better and better through qualifying, with the track gripping up, he said. Its not a low downforce track but due to the high altitude its quite low downforce, track evolution seemed to hellp the car and pick up the balance and the pace for us.dddddddddddd Perhaps we did a good job as well understanding the tyres, getting them into the sweet spot.Hulkenberg has been involved in incidents at the start in Singapore and the U.S. recently, but he is not daunted by a similar fate on Sunday in Mexico.Youve always got to be careful at the start. Every start has a different dynamic so you have to play it by ear, see where the gap is. I think last weekend wasnt great, but it wasnt my mistake. I think it should be fine tomorrow.We had [the long straight to Turn 1] last year though and everyone survived! So not too concerned. ' ' '