Cubs, Garza agree to 2012 deal
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Cubs pitcher Matt Garza was all smiles at the annual Cubs convention last month, and now he has a new contract for the 2012 season worth $9.5 million. Associated Press |
Things have changed markedly in the Cubs’ front office, but one thing has remained the same: Salary-arbitration hearings are to be avoided if at all possible.
New Cubs president Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer on Friday barely avoided a hearing with ace pitcher Matt Garza, agreeing at the last minute to a one-year deal worth $9.5 million plus incentives.
If the two sides had gone to a scheduled hearing Friday in Florida, an arbitrator would have picked either the Cubs’ offer of $7.95 million or Garza’s request of $12.5 million.
Last season, Garza made $5.95 million as he went 10-10 with a 3.32 ERA for a bad Cubs team.
In the end, cooler heads prevailed. That comes as little surprise. When Epstein was GM of the Red Sox from 2003-11, he never had a potential arbitration case go to a hearing. The Cubs under the direction of former president Andy MacPhail and GM Jim Hendry had only one hearing from 1995-2011: infielder Ryan Theriot in 2010.
Garza enters spring training in two weeks as the Cubs’ top starting pitcher, but there still remains the possibility he will be traded. The seemingly reasonable salary settlement may make him more attractive to contending clubs.
Still working on it:
The Cubs still have not confirmed the reported signing of 19-year-old Cuban pitcher Gerardo Concepción.
It appears the Cubs and the left-handed pitcher are on the path to an agreement, but several hurdles, including a physical exam, must be cleared.
Reports on Thursday have the Cubs and Concepción agreeing on a multiyear deal worth $7 million.
Concepción was the Rookie of the Year in the Cuban National Series in 2010-11, going 10-3 with a 3.36 ERA in 21 games with 16 starts.
Control was an issue with Concepción, but that’s not a surprise considering his youth. In 101⅔ innings pitched during that season, he gave up 103 hits while walking 43 and striking out 53.
Although it’s difficult sometimes to get a good read on Cuban pitchers, the Cubs like Concepción’s upside. It’s unlikely he’d make it to the major leagues this year.
Spring in the air:
The Cubs have added to their list of nonroster invitees to spring training, giving a spot to reliever Esmailin Caridad. The 28-year-old Caridad pitched for the Cubs briefly in 2009 and 2010, but suffered from elbow problems.
In 22 big-league games, he is 1-1 with a 3.09 ERA and 1 save. He pitched last year at Class AAA Iowa, going 3-2 with an 8.27 ERA and 4 saves in 26 relief appearances.
The Cubs also have signed veteran left-handed pitcher Ryan Rowland-Smith to a minor-league contract without an invite to spring training. Rowland-Smith, a native of Australia, is 12-17 with a 4.56 ERA in 115 games, 47 starts, with the Seattle Mariners from 2007-10. He pitched in the minor leagues last year for the Houston Astros.
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