MILWAUKEE — Ryan Braun probably could have waited a year or two and made a lot more money than he signed for Thursday, but the Milwaukee Brewers' left fielder said now was the time to make a long-term commitment to the club.

"The fact that I have less than a year in the big leagues really puts this in perspective," Braun said at a morning news conference announcing the longest and richest deal in franchise history. "The opportunity to secure my future financially really means a lot to me."

The deal is worth $45 million for the rest of this season and the next seven seasons, and increases to $51 million if it is decided he would have been arbitration-eligible following 2009.

And while his $455,000 salary for this season might look paltry compared to his new numbers, a $2.3 million signing bonus certainly eases some of the sting of his comparatively low wages for this season.

Braun will average $6.1 million per year over the seven years of the contract at the $45 million total, and nearly $7 million at the $51 million total.  

Since his arrival in the big leagues last May 25, Braun has proved to be one of the most prolific hitters in the game.

His statistics last season, when he was the National League Rookie of the Year, plus what is viewed as almost unlimited potential by keen observers of the game, certainly would have earned him a bigger reward down the road if he had waited for arbitration and free agency.

Braun's agent, Nez Balelo, admitted as much.

"If Ryan continues at the pace he's at, does he make more money year to year? Yes, there's no question about it," Balelo said.

While that sort of thinking works for some players, it's not for all. Balelo's agency represented Philadelphia first baseman Ryan Howard, who won $10 million in his first arbitration hearing last winter.

Braun also could have delayed signing a long-term deal in hopes of gathering a contract akin to what Florida shortstop Hanley Ramirez is expected to sign. Ramirez, the 2006 NL Rookie of the Year who is eligible for arbitration at the end of this season, reportedly has agreed to a six-year, $70 million deal.

One category Braun does fit these days is a large number of young, not-yet arbitration-eligible players who are signing long-term deals. The length and financial terms of Braun's deal puts him at the top of this growing list.

Players with similar experience as Braun who have signed big deals of late include Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (six years, $31 million) and Arizona center fielder Chris Young (five years, $28 million). Tampa Bay rookie third baseman Evan Longoria was signed to a $17.5 million deal over six years shortly after being called up from the minors.

"What you see is real economic incentive on both sides to do this," Brewers owner Mark Attanasio said.

Balelo said there also is financial incentive to sign early.

"We would have to wait three more years to get into making money," he said of Braun. "We were able to work things out where it made more sense financially early on."

The 24-year-old Braun will be 32 when his first chance for free agency is scheduled.

Melvin first approached Braun about a long-term deal during spring training, something he also did with Prince Fielder, J.J. Hardy, Rickie Weeks and Corey Hart.

So far, none of the others have aggressively pursued the Brewers' overtures, though sources say the Brewers are in talks with Hart and his representative.

"It was very evident when we got into negotiations that Ryan Braun wanted to be a Milwaukee Brewers (player) for a very long period of time," Melvin said. "It wasn't about three years, it wasn't about four years. It was about that period of time."