The Cubs and catcher Geovany Soto have avoided arbitration, reaching an agreement on a one-year contract worth $3MM, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times (Twitter link). Soto, who turns 28 next week, is represented by WMG.
Soto was the NL's Rookie of the Year in 2008, and bounced back from a sophomore slump in 2009 with an impressive .280/.393/.497 line in 397 plate appearances last season, though he was plagued with a shoulder injury that eventually required arthroscopic surgery in September. He earned $575K for that performance and obviously was in line for a big raise in his first year of arbitration eligibility. MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith looked at Soto as an extension candidate in September, but it appears as though Chicago wants to see if Soto can remain consistent before making a longer-term commitment to the catcher.
The Cubs have four remaining arb-eligible players — Matt Garza, Tom Gorzelanny, Carlos Marmol and Sean Marshall. You can follow their cases plus those of every other arbitration-eligible player this winter on MLBTR's Arb Tracker.
Garza is arb-eligible too, you forgot again.
He mentions Garza in bold lettering after he also mentions “The Cubs have four remaining arb-eligible players”…..
Jntg4 was correct. The original post did not have Garza mentioned. Mark added him.
Not when I posted that. He added him since then.
“MLBTR’s Ben Nicholson-Smith looked at Soto as an extension candidate in September, but it appears as though Chicago wants to see if Soto can remain consistent before making a longer-term commitment to the catcher.”
Soto is team controlled and will be 28 in a few days. However, money is available and off the books after 2011. I’m guessing Hendry will extend Soto if he has a good year.
I hope hendry is fired this summer if quade fails. Let quade and hendry walk out the door together hand in hand if and or when this manager fails.
?????
Chicago style ;-)
Hendry should not have been around as long as this, but then am pretty sure Cub fans would agree with that.
I completely disagree.
If the Cubs fail, it won’t be because of Mike Quade. It will be because of the players assembled which is controlled by Jim Hendry. Quade deserves a shot with a real ballteam
Good news. I think Soto proved last year that he’s legit.
While I’m aware this is his first year of arbitration, it doesn’t seem reasonable that Soto only gets $3m, while Russell Martin was able to get a guarantee of $4m plus incentives coming off two awful seasons, a broken hip and knee surgery. Soto even made his debut a year earlier…
Cause Geo likes the Cubs, IDK. Good question.
Garza is still listed for the Rays in the arb tracker.
I’m surprised it was only a one year deal. Has Geo bulked up again? Unless the team, has seen something to make them believe Geo won’t have a good year, I say sign him to a multi-year contract. I’m not talking crazy money, but show some confidence in the man. He has been around for a few years and knows the pitching staff and knows when to talk on the mound.
He is still under team control for a few more years. Why commit money they don’t have to?
Soto needs to put 2 good seasons together before getting a multi. He quietly had a pretty good yr, so let’s hope he can put another one together and rewarded long-term.
While the Cubs could eeeeasily finish 4th in this division, I can see where things could look good if EVERYTHING goes right. a 7-8-9 of Marshall, Woody & Marmol isn’t too shabby, and a rotation of Dempster/Garza/Z/Cashner/Gorz/Wells/Silva, with 2 of those going to the pen, I could see them staying in a lot of games. I know a lot of ppl hate Z, but he was lights out after he took the straight jacket off.
he won’t ever get a long term at least not with the Cubs.. if he had any trade value now is the time to trade him.. might get Double A minor league player for him.. if they are lucky
Wood should be the closer.. He has the mariano cutter virtually no one can touch it makes perfect sense to make him the closer
bad signing.. way overpaid.. It’s been well known Hendry has never gone to arbitration sonce being the GM of the Cubs, this is a perfect example of that fact not always being a good thing..