Ryan Braun cemented his place in Brewers history on Thursday, signing his second long-term contract with the Milwaukee Brewers in the last three years.
His first deal, signed in May, 2008, was for eight years and $45 million, which ran through the 2015 season. The deal signed today by the All-Star right fielder adds five extra years to that deal, keeping him in Milwaukee through the 2020 and adds another $105 million to his bank account.
Braun becomes the second player signed through the 2020 season. Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki is the other.
Since debuting with the Brewers in late May, 2007, Braun has played at an All-Star level.
In fact, he is off to an historically great start to his career. Braun is one of five players to hit at least 125 home runs and hit at least .300 over the first four seasons to start his career.
The other four? Chuck Klein, Joe DiMaggio, Albert Pujols and Ted Williams.
Even in a down season in 2010, he still hit .304 with 25 home runs and 103 RBI. He appeared in his third straight All-Star game and won his third consecutive Silver Slugger Award as well. Braun is hitting as well to start 2011 as any point in his young career.
The signing of Braun reaffirms the commitment of the Brewers front office to fielding a consistently competitive team. Braun, Yovani Gallardo, Corey Hart and Rickie Weeks have all agreed to long-term extensions within the last year.
Although this may take the team officially out of the race to sign first baseman Prince Fielder to a long-term deal, the team will continue to pursue contract extensions with Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum.
This extension also assures Braun, barring any catastrophic, career-threatening injury, of becoming the Brewers' all-time leader in every major statistical category, vaulting himself ahead of Robin Yount as the franchise's greatest player.
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