Carlos Marmol, Cubs Agree to Extension

February 14 2011 Last updated at 01:53 PM ET

Carlos Marmol and the Chicago Cubs have agreed to a three-year contract extension, the team announced Monday. Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com was first to report news of an agreement. The deal buys out the two remaining years of arbitration eligibility for Marmol.

The 28-year-old right-hander is one of the most exciting closers in baseball, even if it's for the wrong reasons at times. In 2010, his first season as a full-time closer, Marmol struck out 138 batters in 77 2/3 innings (that's a mind-boggling 16 K/9). Of course, he also walked 52 hitters and hit eight batters.

Still, the headaches Marmol provided the Wrigley faithful paled in comparison to the benefits. He saved 38 games in 43 opportunities with a 2.55 ERA and 1.19 WHIP last year.

This season, Marmol will lead what appears to be a formidable back-end of the bullpen for the North Siders with former closer Kerry Wood and left-hander Sean Marshall.

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