Cubs’ Arrieta avoids arbitration, agrees to $3.63-million deal

SHARE Cubs’ Arrieta avoids arbitration, agrees to $3.63-million deal

The Cubs and right-hander Jake Arrieta avoided arbitration Friday, agreeing to a $3.63-million, one-year deal in the pitcher’s first year of arbitration eligibility.

Arrieta, who turns 29 in March, had a breakout season in 2014, taking no-hitters into the eighth inning twice – six times into the fifth inning. His 2.53 ERA would have ranked sixth in the National League with 5 1/3 more innings to qualify.

Shoulder “stiffness” sidelined him the first month of last season, but Arrieta said Thursday that was “no big deal,” attributing the lengthy DL stint to the team’s especially cautious approach. And he said he’s healthy now.

Arrieta is one of at least three Cubs to agree to terms Friday, including outfielder Chris Coghlan ($2.505 million) and catcher Welington Castillo ($2.1 million).

That left three unsigned arbitration players: Luis Valbuena, Pedro Strop and Travis Wood.

The Latest
Despite getting into foul trouble, which limited him to just six minutes in the second half, Shannon finished with 29 points, five rebounds and two assists.
Cowboy hats, bell-bottoms and boots were on full display Thursday night as fans lined up for the first of his three sold-out shows.
The incident occurred about 3:40 p.m. near Minooka. The horse was successfully placed back into the trailer, and the highway reopened about 40 minutes later. No injuries were reported.
The Hawks conceded the game’s only two goals within the first seven minutes and were shut out for the 12th time this season in a 2-0 defeat Thursday.