The Chicago Cubs agreed to the terms with free-agent Ben Zobrist (infielder/outfielder) and traded Starling Castro (second baseman) to the New York Yankees, team announced Tuesday.
Zobrist contract is for four years and $56 million where his first three years is a full no-trade clause. He will be receiving a $2 million signing bonus, then a $10 million in salary over the 2016 season, and then he will make $16 million, $16 million and $12 million for the three final years of his contract, as reported by the ESPN.
The Chicago Cubs acquired pitcher Adam Warren and a player that is yet to be announced in return for Castro, who played for six seasons with the Chicago Cubs and made a three time All-Start team. But according to ESPN sources and multiple reports, Brendan Ryan, a second baseman is the player to be announced.
"We could not have made this signing without this trade and would not have made this trade without this signing," Theo Epstein, Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations said. "This was an opportunity to essentially trade Starlin for Ben Zobrist and Adam Warren. That made a lot of sense for us."
The deal reunites Zobrist with his former manager in Tampa Bay, Joe Maddon.
"He's all about winning. That's what he's about," Maddon said earlier Tuesday.
According to USA Today, Zobrist, 34, was known to be the most versatile and one of the most valuable free agent targets this off-season. His flexibility will play very well with the Chicago Cubs.
On the other hand, Castro hit .265 with a .671 OPS in 2015. He is owed $38 million for the next four seasons and a $16 million team option in 2020. He will be playing together with short stop Didi Gregorious to establish a young, potentially powerful core in the New York Yankees' infield.
