Sean Marshall, Cincinnati Reds Sign Three-Year Contract Extension

The Cincinnati Reds and left-handed reliever Sean Marshall have reached an agreement on a three-year contract extension.  Marshall’s new deal is worth $16.5 million and includes $2 million in performance bonuses per season.  Cincinnati acquired Marshall this offseason in a trade with the Chicago Cubs.

Marshall had yet to throw a pitch for the Reds and yet they thought enough of the 29-year-olod to lock him up for three more years.  The Associated Press released the following breakdown of Marshall’s deal, which runs through 2015.  In 2013 Marshal will earn $4.5 million, $5.5 million in ‘14 and $6.5 million in ’15.

Marshall has an opportunity to earn incentives if he starts or closes games.  Though some initially thought he may get a shot at finishing games for the Reds in 2012, the Ryan Madson signing made it clear that Marshall will continue to act as a setup man next season.

In this role he has shined for the past several years in Chicago.  After entering the league as a starting pitcher, Marshall was converted to a full-time reliever in 2010.  That year he maintained a 2.65 ERA to go with his 1.112 WHIP over 80 appearances spanning 74 2/3 innings.  Marshall was a tick better in 2011, posting an ERA and WHIP of 2.26 and 1.097 over his 75 2/3 frames while maintaining an impressive SO/BB ratio of 4.65.

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