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CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs have viewed Anthony Rizzo as a part of their future since they acquired him. Now hes locked in. The slugging first baseman and the Cubs agreed Monday to a $41 million, seven-year contract that could be worth up to $68 million over nine seasons. "We believe in Anthony," general manager Jed Hoyer said. "We think hes going to be a very big part of our future here in Chicago, and were excited to get a deal done. The 23-year-old is hitting .280 with a .352 on-base percentage. He also has nine home runs and 28 RBIs in his third major league season. Rizzo realized that he was taking "maybe a little bit of a discount now" but said "its security for now and its a huge weight off my shoulder, my familys shoulders, my kids shoulders, my grandkids shoulders." Hoyer said talks for a new deal began with about two weeks left in spring training but were halted before opening day. They restarted less than two weeks ago. Rizzo gets a $2 million signing bonus, of which $250,000 is payable within 30 days of the contracts approval by Major League Baseball and $1.75 million is payable next Jan. 15. He receives a $750,000 salary this year, up from $498,000 under the agreement he reached in March. He then will earn $1.25 million next year, $5 million apiece in 2015 and 2016, $7 million each in 2017 and 2018 and $11 million in 2019. Chicago has a $14.5 million option for 2020 with a $2 million buyout. If that is exercised, the Cubs will have a $14.5 million for 2021 with a $2 million buyout. "This day has come so fast," Rizzo said. "Looking back on it, when I was a young kid dreaming of this day, its a surreal moment." With chairman Tom Ricketts and president of baseball operations Theo Epstein watching, the Cubs announced a deal that has the highest average annual value ($5,857,143) for a position player with less than two years of major league service. Among pitchers in that service group, Seattles Hisashi Iwakuma ($7 million), Torontos Ricky Romero ($6.02 million) and San Franciscos Madison Bumgarner ($5,592,667) have higher averages. "I think its a great matchup for both sides," Hoyer said. "It is unusual that it is early, but I think our knowledge of Anthony and our belief in him as a person makes that possible." Hoyer declined to say if the Cubs are negotiating new deals with other players, but said he "certainly" hopes there are others who follow Rizzo. Rizzo was selected out of high school in the sixth round of the 2007 amateur draft by Boston, a time when Epstein and Hoyer were running the Red Sox front office. Hoyer was the Padres general manager when San Diego dealt for Rizzo. He was treated for Hodgkins lymphoma in 2008 and played only 21 games that season. He recovered, became a top prospect and was dealt to San Diego in December 2010 as part of the Adrian Gonzalez trade. Rizzo then played 49 games for the Padres in 2011 but struggled, hitting .141 with one homer and RBIs. He was traded to Chicago in January 2012 for Andrew Cashner. Rizzo was batting just .173 heading into the game at Miami on April 26. He hit a 420-foot home run to centre and a 413-foot shot to the upper deck in right field that day for his second career two-homer game. It also gave him eight for the season, the most by a Cubs left-handed hitter in April. Last August, the Cubs gave shortstop Starlin Castro a $60 million, seven-year contract. "I feel happy because I feel like I have him and me for a long time here," Castro said. And manager Dale Sveum thought the deal bodes well for a team without a World Series title since 1908. Its pretty important to all of us, the city, the organization, to have somebody like that locked up for that long," he said. NOTES: If an option is declined, the buyout is payable the following Jan. 15. If he wins the NL MVP or finishes among the top five in MVP voting at least twice, his 2019 salary increases to $12 million and the option prices go up to $16.5 million. In addition, if he finishes among the top two in NL MVP voting in any year through 2019 and then is traded, he can void the 2021 option. Rizzo also gets a hotel suite for road trips. His deal was negotiated by agent Marc Pollack of Sports One Athlete Management. Matt Szczur Jersey .Y. -- Knicks coach Mike Woodson said Wednesday that J. Eric Hosmer Jersey . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. http://www.padresrookiestore.com/Padres-Dave-Winfield-Kids-Jersey/ . -- Charline Labonte couldnt have asked for a better homecoming. Clayton Richard Jersey . A statement from the worlds top-ranked player says all checks "were satisfactory and showed positive evolution" regarding the injury, which contributed to his loss to Stanislas Wawrinka in the final in Melbourne. Tony Gwynn Jersey . He was followed closely by David Clarkson, donning red, seconds later. Clarksons actions one night earlier, leaping off the bench in defence of Kessel during a pre-season game against the Buffalo Sabres, will cost him the first 10 games of the regular season. ATLANTA -- Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer was escorted to the locker room late in the first half of Tuesday nights preseason win over New Orleans after being bowled over by Pelicans guard Langston Galloway, who was chasing a loose ball.Budenholzer already had his right hand in a brace and his arm in a sling after suffering a broken finger that required surgery on Monday. The second-quarter collision with Galloway knocked Budenholzer over the first row of seats and into the press seating.Budenholzer was helped to his feet and sat on the bench for a few minutes, grimacing in obvious pain, before being escorted to the locker room. He did not return to the preseason game.Assistant coach Darvin Ham, who took over for the remainder of the game, said Budenholzer did not aggravate his hand injury in the collision.Coach Bud is doing great, Ham said. He took a nasty, nasty spill but all in all hes fine. ... The ribs got a little touched up but overall hes doing well.Budenholzer remained in the arena for the end of the game, won by the Hawks 96-89, but was not available for comment.ddddddddddddIt was a bad night for coaches. New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry was sick and unable to join his team on the bench. New Orleans assistant coach Darren Erman filled in for Gentry, who had stomach discomfort, according to the team.Before leaving the floor, the expression of pain on Budenholzers face became more intense when it was announced the Hawks were called for a delay of game on the play because he touched the ball while unable to avoid Galloway.Hawks guard Kyle Korver had to laugh at Budenholzers predicament.Man, Bud is having a tough week, Korver said. He saw it coming and then he got delay of game because he hit the ball before it came out. Oh man. Sorry, Bud. It was amazing he was even here after having surgery yesterday and he was on some meds, obviously. ' ' '