Cubs extend Zambrano for 5 years, $91.5M

He left an outing against the New York Mets in the sixth inning with heat-related cramping and was driven out by Houston in his next start after giving up seven runs in 5 1-3 innings.

On Tuesday night, he allowed 13 hits and six runs in seven innings with two walks and no strikeouts against the Cincinnati Reds.

The sides were close to a deal before that game but couldn’t finalize it and Hendry said Zambrano’s performance that night was affected by the contract situation.

Zambrano couldn’t say for sure if that was bothering him — there was also speculation that he pitched poorly because his shoulder was hurting but that has been dashed. And now he will pitch Sunday against the Cardinals, knowing he will be with the Cubs through at least 2012.

“Now I have a fresh mind,” he said.

He’s had an eventful season, getting into a fight with catcher Michael Barrett and breaking a bat over his knee. Against the Reds, he got so angry after grounding out, he slammed his helmet to the ground and it bounced all the way into right field.

His familiar antics on the mound include pumping his fist after getting an out. In one game, he did a complete spin in front of the mound.

Now he should be jumping up and down over one of the biggest contracts ever given a pitcher, even if he did have to wait a while.

Zambrano, who was born in Venezuela, was selected by the Cubs as a non-drafted free agent in 1997. Now he’s set for life.