Why Cubs' deal with Arrieta is good for both sides

Things largely played out as expected between the Cubs and ace pitcher Jake Arrieta.

News broke late Friday night that the Cubs and Arrieta agreed on a 2016 contract worth $10.7 million, avoiding an arbitration hearing that was scheduled for Tuesday in Arizona.

There was little to no chance the two sides were going to a hearing, and this deal is a good one on several levels.

First, it spares both sides a hearing. Salary-arbitration hearings can get acrimonious. This wasn't going to happen between the Cubs and Arrieta, as general manager Jed Hoyer promised during the Cubs convention. It could have been a ticklish or awkward situation, with the Cubs trying to argue against Arrieta wanting a raise from $3.63 million to $13 million while the club offer was $7.5 million.

After all, the big right-hander went 22-6 with an ERA of 1.77, earning him the Cy Young Award. Included in his second-half run was a no-hitter against the Dodgers and a complete-game shutout of the Pirates in the National League wild-card game.

Second, the Cubs took the goodwill one step further by agreeing to a contract above the midpoint between the two sides' salary figures. That midpoint was $10.25 million. By settling at a little over the midpoint, the Cubs tipped their cap to the exceptional season Arrieta enjoyed last season and didn't quibble over a relatively few dollars.

Third and perhaps most important, the relative ease in coming to an agreement on a one-year contract possibly can set the stage for a long-term deal for Arrieta, who cannot become a free agent until after the 2017 season.

It also reaffirms that the Cubs management team of Hoyer and team president Theo Epstein can work with Arrieta's agent, the formidable Scott Boras.

Make no mistake, Boras and Arrieta will be looking for a megadeal. But by the Cubs not digging in their heels and going to a hearing or even adhering to midpoint figures, it demonstrates a willingness to be flexible, and that could set an early positive tone for talks on a long-term contract extension for Arrieta, whenever those might begin.

As everybody knows, giving pitchers long-term deals can be a risky business. Arrieta is doing his part by working hard in the off-season and between starts during the season to stay in good physical shape.

All of this will play out, whether it takes a matter of weeks or months. Until then, the feelings should be nothing but positive, and all that's left to do now is to let spring training begin.