NEWSLETTER
Matt Garza is eligible for arbitration in 2013, his final year of control by the Chicago Cubs, and he’s set to hit free agency after that. Having missed the second half of 2012 with a stress reaction in his pitching elbow, and after exchanging figures at this time last year that saw the two sides very far apart on his contract for 2012, it was fair to wonder whether nailing down a number for Garza for 2013 was going to be a little tricky.
But, no. It won’t be. In fact, it’s already done:
Business side over! Hooray! Time to focus on what really matters…2013 #GoCubsGo
— Matt garza (@Gdeuceswild) January 18, 2013
According to Garza’s agents, the deal is for $10.25 million, and it avoids arbitration for 2013. Obviously the two sides could look to discuss a long-term extension at any time, but at a minimum, they won’t have to go through the arbitration process. Garza made $9.5 million last year, so the slight bump sounds about right.
The Cubs’ two remaining arbitration eligible players are James Russell and Jeff Samardzija.
