The Chicago Cubs have officially signed Carlos Marmol to a three-year deal, according to the team.  The Chicago Sun-Times reports that the deal is for $20 million and Marmol will be paid $3.2 million in 2011, $7 million in 2012 and $9.8 million in 2013.

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports was the first to report the deal this morning.

The sides had been discussing a deal for quite some time.  As recently as yesterday, the Cubs and Marmol were exploring avenues on a multi-year deal or a potential one-year deal to avoid arbitration.

The 28-year-old right-hander made $2.13 million in 2010 and is eligible for arbitration in 2011 and 2012.  His three-year deal buys out his arbitration-eligible years and his free agent year.  Had the sides gone to arbitration, they would be arguing between the $5.65 million that Marmol requested and the $4.1 million the Cubs countered with.

Marmol was 2-3 with a 2.55 ERA in 77 2/3 innings throughout 77 appearances. The right-hander converted 38 of 43 save opportunities in 2010.