Six Cubs avoid arbitration; Matt Garza still unsigned
By Gordon Wittenmyer gwittenmyer@suntimes.com January 17, 2012 8:16PM
Updated: February 19, 2012 8:24AM
The Cubs reached agreement on 2012 contracts with six of their seven arbitration-eligible players by the deadline for filing arbitration figures Tuesday.
Only Matt Garza, who made $5.95 million last season, didn’t come to terms.
Garza, who went 10-10 with a 3.32 ERA last season, filed an arbitration figure of $10.225 million; the Cubs’ countered with $7.95 million.
Whether Garza agrees to a deal before reaching a hearing next month, he remains a subject of trade speculation, despite team president Theo Epstein’s assertion that the club isn’t shopping him.
Sources say the Cubs are willing to deal Garza but have asked for significantly more than interested teams are willing to give.
Those reaching terms included catcher Geovany Soto ($4.3 million) and starting-rotation candidates Randy Wells ($2.705 million) and Chris Volstad ($2.655 million).
Third baseman Ian Stewart agreed to a $2,237,500 deal, and infielders Jeff Baker ($1.375 million) and Blake DeWitt ($1.1 million) also agreed.
