Major League Baseball

Report: Cardinals, Carlos Martinez agree to five-year, $51 million extension

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 12:10 p.m. ET

Sports Illustrated, SI Wire/Sports Illustrated

The St. Louis Cardinals have agreed to a five-year, $51 million contract extension with starting pitcher Carlos Martinez, reports FanRag Sports' Jon Heyman.

The deal is a record for a first-time arbitration-eligible player and includes two additional option years.

The record amount breaks the previous record for a first-time arbitration-eligible pitcher was se by Cleveland Indians ace Corey Klubera after he signed a five-year, $38.5 million deal in 2015

Martinez had been set for an arbitration hearing on Feb. 8.

The 25-year-old Martinez went 16–9, with a 3.04 ERA and 174 strikeouts last season.

Martinez is one of the most effective ground ball pitchers in the National League, inducing 33 double plays and ranking second in the NL with a ground-ball percentage of 57.7.

- Scooby Axson