Earlier this offseason, the Arizona Diamondbacks broke the bank to ensure one young star was with them for a long time. Monday, they gave Justin Upton a long-term partner in the middle of the batting order. Mark Reynolds and the team have agreed to a three-year, $14.5 million contract, reports Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. There's also reportedly an $11 million club option for a fourth year. The deal is backloaded, as Reynolds will earn just $500,000 -- in addition to a $1 million signing bonus -- this season, but his contract escalates to $7.5 million for 2012.
Reynolds, 26, enjoyed a breakout season in 2009. He bashed 44 home runs and 102 RBI. His .260 average was an improvement, and his .892 OPS was very solid.
The burly third baseman even stole 24 bases along the way. On the downside, Reynolds shattered his own record for strikeouts in a season. The new standard for whiffs in a season is 223. It was the second consecutive season Reynolds struck out more than 200 times, and no one else in the history of baseball has accomplished that feat.
Despite that shortcoming, though, this is a nice deal for the Diamondbacks. They have locked up a 40-homer slugger who is just entering his prime for a relatively cheap price, assuming he continues to knock the ball out of the park.
Reynolds and Upton in the middle of the batting order will give opposing pitching staffs fits and now the Arizona front office can rest easy knowing they are locked up.
