The Chicago Cubs have agreed to a contract extension with Starlin Castro, reports ESPN's Enrique Rojas. The 22-year-old shortstop will receive $60 million over seven seasons, with a $16 million option for 2020. Had he not agreed to the extension, Castro would have been eligible for arbitration for the first time at the end of the season.

In 117 games this season, Castro has hit .278/.309/.423, down slightly from his career marks of .297/.333/.422. He's already hit a career-high 12 home runs with 58 RBI and 19 stolen bases.

Earlier this week, Al Yellon of Bleed Cubbie Blue endorsed the idea of locking up the young star:

This is an outstanding idea, and exactly how smart management teams in baseball are doing things today -- locking up young stars before they even reach free agency. We don't know what the terms are yet, or when this might be announced, but clearly, it will save the Cubs a ton of money over the next few years, presuming Castro continues to develop into a star.

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