D-Backs' Young inks five-year deal

Apr 8, 2008 - 10:52 PM PHOENIX (Ticker) -- Arizona Diamondbacks center fielder Chris Young on Tuesday agreed to terms on a five-year extension, the team announced.

The deal keeps Young under contract with the Diamondbacks through 2013 and includes a club option for 2014.

The financial terms were not disclosed, but multiple media outlets have reported that the contract is worth approximately $30 million.

If those figures are accurate, Young's contract would be identical to the six-year, $30 million deal recently signed by Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki.

Young, 24, and the Diamondbacks had been negotiating a new contract since spring training. Arizona renewed Young's current $400,000 contract last month, but the new contract supersedes the one-year deal.

"These type of deals show a lot of commitment on both sides," Arizona general manager Josh Byrnes said. "Clearly, Chris is one of our core players, and his character and talent are both of extreme quality."

Young was outstanding as a rookie last season, batting .237 with 32 home runs, 68 RBI and 27 stolen bases. The Houston native became the first rookie in baseball history to reach 30 homers and 25 stolen bases.

One of baseball's top defensive center fielders, Young has appeared in seven games this season for the reigning NL West champion Diamondbacks, batting .259 with four homers and six RBI.