Cubs tender offers to Arrieta, five others
Chicago also comes to terms with Brothers, Richard
CHICAGO -- As expected, the Cubs tendered offers to Jake Arrieta, Travis Wood, Pedro Strop, Hector Rondon, Justin Grimm and Chris Coghlan on Wednesday, and also agreed to terms with left-handed relievers Rex Brothers and Clayton Richard on 2016 contracts.
The Cubs did not tender contracts to right-hander Ryan Cook and lefty Jack Leathersich. All but Leathersich were arbitration-eligible. Teams had until 10:59 p.m. CT Wednesday to tender 2016 contracts, and if they did not, the players would become free agents.
In addition to Brothers and Richard, 26 players from the 40-man roster were tendered 2016 contracts. That includes 20 who were not yet eligible for arbitration.
Arrieta, the National League Cy Young Award winner, who led the Major Leagues with 22 wins, is in line for a significant raise. He made $3.63 million last season, and MLBTradeRumors.com projects he could receive $10.6 million in arbitration.
The Cubs have had some talks with Arrieta's agent regarding a possible long-term deal. He will be a free agent after the 2017 season.
Wood, who began the year in the rotation and made a successful switch to the bullpen, made $5.685 million last season. Strop was paid $2.525 million, Rondon $544,000, Grimm $531,500 and Coghlan $2.505 million. This is the first year Rondon and Grimm are arbitration-eligible.
Rondon set a personal high with 34 saves and compiled his best ERA (1.67), appearing in a career-high 72 games. MLBTradeRumors.com projects he would receive $3.6 million in 2016. Strop also set career highs in games (76) and innings pitched (68), and Grimm posted a 1.99 ERA in 62 games.
Brothers, traded to the Cubs on Nov. 25 for Minor League lefty Wander Cabrera, agreed to a one-year, $1.42 million contract. The lefty, who turns 28 on Dec. 18, split the 2015 season between the Rockies and Triple-A Albuquerque, and posted a 1.74 ERA in 17 big league relief appearances.
Richard, acquired in a trade with the Pirates in July, signed a one-year, $2 million deal. He appeared in 23 games, making three spot starts, and became the prime lefty in the postseason, giving up three hits over 4 2/3 scoreless innings.
With all the moves, the 40-man roster is now at 36.