St. Louis Cardinals' Carlos Martinez stressed importance of new contract

St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Carlos Martinez agreed to a five-year, $51 million deal, the team officially announced on Thursday.

The Cardinals said the contract includes club options for 2022 and 2023. The deal is the longest ever given a player heading into his first year of arbitration eligibility, trumping Corey Kluber's five-year, $38.5 million contract with the Cleveland Indians in 2015.

"This is something I've always dreamed of," the 25-year-old Martinez said on Thursday. "As a boy growing up, for I waited on the day I could be independent and bring a future for me and my family."

Martinez was due to become a free agent after the 2019 season.

"Carlos felt it was important to get something done now, so did the Cardinals," St. Louis general manager John Mozeliak said. "Knowing Carlos Martinez can anchor this rotation for the next five years, feels and sounds pretty good to me."

Martinez was an All-Star in 2015, when he finished 14-7 with a 3.01 ERA in 31 games (29 starts). Last year, he went 16-9 with a 3.04 ERA in 31 starts. He ranked in the league's top 10 in wins and ERA both years.

"Thinking ahead to the future, I thought it was an opportunity I couldn't let go of," Martinez said. "I was extremely happy and excited I feel it's something I deserve. The contract will be long enough to prove what I'm capable of and I'm really thankful for that."

Breaking into the majors with St. Louis in 2013, Martinez spent most of his first two seasons in the bullpen. In four seasons overall, he is 34-21 with a 3.32 ERA and two saves in 140 games (68 starts).

When the clubs and players recently exchanged arbitration figures, Martinez was asking for $4.25 million for 2017, and the Cardinals were offering him $3.9 million.

Right-hander Michael Wacha is the only other Cardinal with a pending arbitration case.