Cubs and Arrieta avoid arbitration with $15.6 million deal

All-Star pitcher Jake Arrieta avoided arbitration Friday by agreeing to one-year, $15.637 million contract with the Cubs.

Arrieta, 30, went 18-8 with a 3.10 ERA last season before helping the Cubs win their first World Series since 1908. In 2015, he won the National League Cy Young Award after going 22-6 with a 1.77 ERA.

In another notable signing Friday, Hector Rondon, who lost his closer job with the Cubs in July with the acquisition of Aroldis Chapman, avoided arbitration with the club Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $5.8 million deal.

The Cubs also avoided arbitration with reliever Justin Grimm by agreeing to a one-year, $1.82 million deal with the right-hander.

Rondon made $4.2 million last season in his first year of arbitration eligibility.

The hard-throwing right-hander had his best season in 2015, earning 30 saves with a 1.67 ERA for the Cubs’ surprising playoff team.

Rondon, 28, had 18 saves and a 1.95 ERA in late July last season when the Cubs traded for closer Aroldis Chapman, with Rondon moving to a setup role. He spent time on the disabled list late in the season and finished with a 3.53 ERA in 51 innings overall.

The former Rule 5 draft pick remains in a setup role as he enters spring training after the Cubs traded Jorge Soler to Kansas City last month for closer Wade Davis.

Two other Cubs, both pitchers, are eligible for arbitration: starter Jake Arrieta ($10.7 million last year) and reliever Pedro Strop ($4.4 million).