Cubs' Hill not tendered a contract

Backup catcher Koyie Hill was the only Cubs player not to be tendered a contract Monday, the deadline for clubs to do so.

Hill, 32, has been a Cub since 2007. He was an arbitration-eligible player who made $850,000 this past season. He is free to re-sign with the Cubs as a free agent.

During 2011, Hill played in 46 games and had a hitting line of .194/.268/.276 with 2 homers and 9 RBI. This move may open the way for youngster Welington Castillo to make the club as the backup to Geovany Soto.

Arbitration-eligible players tendered contracts were Soto, pitchers Matt Garza and Randy Wells and infielders Jeff Baker and Blake DeWitt.