Cubs tender contracts of Arrieta, Wood; sign Brothers, Richard

The Cubs got some business done Wednesday. In addition to tendering contracts to key players such as pitchers Jake Arrieta and Travis Wood, they signed relievers Rex Brothers and Clayton Richard to one-year contracts for 2016.

The deals with Brothers and Richard avoid salary arbitration. The Cubs did not tender contracts to pitchers Ryan Cook and Jack Leathersich, both of whom were acquired this off-season.

In addition to tendering contracts to ace starter Arrieta and left-handed reliever Wood, the Cubs offered contracts to pitchers Justin Grimm, Hector Rondon and Pedro Strop and to outfielder Chris Coghlan.

The Cubs' 40-man roster stands at 36. A total of 26 players were tended contracts Wednesday, the six arbitration-eligibles and to 20 players not yet eligible for salary arbitration.

Arrieta made $3.63 million this past season, when he went 22-6 with a 1.77 ERA and won the Cy Young Award. Wood moved from the rotation to the bullpen during the season and went 5-4 with a 3.84 ERA and 4 saves.

Richard began the season in the Pirates organization and came to the Cubs in July. In 23 games, all but three out of the bullpen, he went 4-2 with a 3.83 ERA. The Cubs obtained Brothers in a recent trade with the Colorado Rockies.