Cubs, Farnsworth agree to terms

No word on any movement in Maddux negotiations

By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com

 

CHICAGO -- The Cubs avoided an arbitration hearing and agreed to terms with pitcher Kyle Farnsworth on a one-year contract Wednesday.

Farnsworth had filed for arbitration, seeking $1.7 million, and the Cubs had countered with an offer of $1.1 million. A hearing was scheduled for Monday, but the two sides reached an agreement on a $1.4 million contract.

 

With the settlement, Cubs team president and CEO Andy MacPhail and general manager Jim Hendry maintained their perfect record of never going to arbitration with a player.

 

The Cubs' remaining business matters heading into Spring Training are agreeing on long-term contracts with pitcher Kerry Wood and first baseman Derrek Lee and continuing their patient wait to see what free agent pitcher Greg Maddux wants to do.

 

Hendry said Wednesday there was "nothing new" to report on the talks with Maddux. The Cubs general manager did speak briefly with Maddux's agent, Scott Boras, earlier this week.

 

Cubs pitchers and catchers report to Mesa, Ariz., for Spring Training on Feb. 18.

 

Farnsworth will be a key part of the Cubs' bullpen. The right-hander was 3-2 with a 3.30 ERA in a career-high 77 games last season. He tied for ninth in the National League in both games and holds (19) and held opponents to a .196 average. His ratio of 10.8 strikeouts for every nine innings pitched ranked sixth in the league.

 

Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to approval by Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Farnsworth had filed for arbitration, seeking $1.7 million, and the Cubs had countered with an offer of $1.1 million. A hearing was scheduled for Monday, but the two sides reached an agreement on a $1.4 million contract.

wow.

 

if only all negotiations were that simple.

and since 2000, that's what they've done with all arb eligible players. go to the middle ground, who'd a thunk it?