CHICAGO -- Right-hander Carlos Zambrano and the Chicago Cubs
agreed to a one-year, $6.5 million deal Saturday and avoided an
arbitration hearing.
The Cubs have signed all of their arbitration-eligible players.
Pitchers and catchers report to Mesa, Ariz., for spring training
next Wednesday.
Zambrano pitched 223 innings last season with a 14-6 record,
3.26 ERA and 202 strikeouts in 33 starts. He made $3.76 million
last season and had asked for a raise to $7.2 million in
arbitration. The Cubs offered $6 million.
Known for his emotional displays on the mound, the 6-foot-5,
255-pound Zambrano has emerged as the ace at 24 after two seasons
of injuries to Kerry Wood and Mark Prior.
Zambrano has a 48-35 career record with a 3.26 ERA. He made the
NL All-Star team in 2004 when he went 16-8 with a 2.75 ERA.