My apologies...

...on behalf of Cubs fans to Anthony Rizzo for the contract extension he reportedly signed Sunday.

On the one hand, it's awesome that they've locked him up through 2019 with two club option years. I also recognize that $41 million is an awful lot of money to just about everyone on the planet. But in terms of baseball money, even if his development grinds to a halt and he averages exactly the same stats he's produced since coming to the Cubs, a shade under $6 million a year for a middle-lineup left-handed hitter is a bargain.

Especially when considering how much the Angels will be overpaying a 39-year-old Albert Pujols six years from now when his numbers have already been declining for four consecutive seasons, this could wind up being as big of a steal for the Cubs as the deal that brought him to Chicago.

So that makes three Cubs locked up through 2019, Rizzo, Starlin Castro and Jorge Soler. Castro is a two-time All-Star, Rizzo could make his first team this year, and Soler's currently in high-A ball at Daytona, his third step up the ladder in less than a year.

Anyhow, good move, Theo and Jed. Anthony, keep on doing what you're doing and you'll be a hero for life on the north side of Chicago. And the next contract will be huge.