Wood, Valbuena avoid arbitration; Strop Cubs’ only unsigned arb guy

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Chicago Cubs’ Travis Wood, left, celebrates with manager Rick Renteria after scoring on a single hit by Javier Baez during the fifth inning of an interleague baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays in Chicago, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2014. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

One-time All-Star pitcher Travis Wood and infielder Luis Valbuena joined three Cubs teammates in avoiding arbitration Friday by agreeing to terms on one-year deals.

Wood, a trade candidate after struggling following his 2013 All-Star season, agreed to a $5.685-million deal.

Valbuena, the Cubs’ primary third baseman the past three seasons, agreed to a $4.2-million deal coming off a career year for at-bats (478), walks (65), homers (16), RBIs (51) and OPS (.776).

The signings left the Cubs only one arbitration-eligible player without an agreement: reliever Pedro Strop. The sides were expected to exchange arbitration figures Friday.

Earlier in the day, right-hander Jake Arrieta ($3.63 million), left-fielder Chris Coghlan ($2.505 million) and catcher Welington Castillo ($2.1 million) agreed to terms.

Arbitration-eligible left-hander Felix Doubront ($1.925 million) reached agreement Thursday.

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