Bronson Arroyo Agrees to Contract Extention with the Cincinnati Reds

The Cincinnati Reds have come to an agreement with starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo on a two year contract extension. Terms of the contract extension state that Arroyo will earn $25 million for the 2009 and 2010 Major League Baseball seasons. This shows that the Reds are committed to keeping a pitcher who had one of his best seasons with the team.

Bronson Arroyo was acquired by the Cincinnati Reds through a trade with the Boston Red Sox. The Reds sent disgruntled outfielder Willy Mo' Pena to the Sox in exchange for Arroyo. The move was made with the purpose of upgrading their starting pitching. Arroyo pitched a major league leading 235 innings of baseball last season. He went 14-11 with an ERA (earned run average) of 3.29. Bronson started the season pitching some of the best baseball in the entire MLB. His solid pithing led to a spot on the National League All Star team. It was shortly after the All Star game that you could see the extra innings of pitching wearing down on Arroyo. The Reds hope to minimize his innings pitched as much as possible this season.

Arroyo previous signed contract still has two years remaining. His salary is guaranteed and he will earn a total of $8,075,000. The salary will be split as $4,125,000 this year and $3,950,000 million next season. His extension will reward him with a $2.5 million signing bonus, which will be earned in 2008. His 2009 salary will be for $9.5 million. He will earn $11 million in 2010.

The signing of Arroyo guarantees the Reds two solid starting pitchers for the next couple years. Arroyo's signing comes a couple days after the Cincinnati Reds signed starting pitcher Aaron Harang to a contract extension. Harang will be paid $36.5 million over the next four years. Both pitchers will provide the Reds with a solid one-two pitching combination. Each pitcher won over 13 games and pitched more innings than most of the players in the major league. This season will see both of their pitching totals minimized in hopes of keeping them energized for a potential post season run.

Sources: