Cubs Avoid Arbitration With Steele, Five Others

The Chicago Cubs have reportedly agreed to new contracts with their six arbitration-eligible players per the Chicago Sun-Times, beating the Thursday deadline.

It comes the same day that the Cubs formally announced its contract with Japanese free-agent pitcher Shota Imanaga and executed a trade to acquire acquiring veteran reliever Yency Almonte and infielder Michael Busch from the Los Angeles Dodgers.

By avoiding arbitration, all of the Cubs’ players for 2024 are signed or under team control.

All six Cubs were in the first year of salary arbitration.

Pitcher Justin Steele cashed in the biggest, agreeing to a $4 million deal for 2024. Steele projects as the Cubs’ Opening-Day starter as he is coming off a 15-6 record and a 3.06 ERA in 2023. It was a breakthrough season for him as he was named an All-Star and finished fifth in Cy Young voting. He also set career highs in innings pitched (173.1) and strikeouts (176).

Reliever Adbert Alzolay agreed to a $2.11 million deal. Alzolay emerged as the Cubs’ closer with 22 saves in 25 chances, along with a 2-5 record and a 2.67 ERA. He struck out 67 hitters in 64 innings.

Outfielder Mike Tauchman will get $1.95 million. He joined the Cubs in 2023 and batted .252/.363/.377/.740 in 108 games. He hit eight home runs and drove in 48 runs.

Infielder Nick Madrigal will get $1.81 million in 2024. He batted .263/.311/.352/.663 with two home runs and 28 RBI in 92 games.

Pitchers Mark Leiter Jr. ($1.5 million) and Julian Merryweather ($1.175 million) also agreed to deals for 2024. Leiter went 1-3 with a 3.50 ERA in 69 appearances, a career high for a single season. Merryweather went 5-1 with a 3.38 ERA in 69 games, as he struck out 98 hitters in 72 innings. He had two saves and 17 holds.

Earlier in the offseason the Cubs avoided arbitration with Patrick Wisdom, who agreed to a one-year, $2.725 million contract in November.