According to a report from the Tribune, Jim Hendry is close to finalizing a long-term contract with Carlos Marmol. The deal should be announced before pitchers and catchers report to Fitch Park next weekend (February 13).
Reports from Bruce Levine have suggested for weeks that the Cubs and Carlos Marmol have been working on a multi-year contract. Levine has consistently reported the deal would be in the three-year range. Carlos Marmol is the Cubs only arbitration eligible player left unsigned for the upcoming season. In his second year of arbitration eligibility, Marmol submitted a $5.65 million figure for 2011 and the Cubs countered with $4.1 million. Marmol earned $2.125 million last year.
According to Levine, the Cubs are looking to buy out the last two years of Marmol’s arbitration eligibility and at least his first year of free agency.
Carlos Marmol posted a 2-3 record last year with a 2.55 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP in 77 games. Marmol finished 70 games and picked up 38 saves in his first full year as the Cubs closer. Marmol struck out 138 batters, walked 52 and hit eight batters in 77 2/3 innings. Marmol set a record with a phenomenal 16.0 strikeouts per nine innings.
Carlos Marmol’s Page on Baseball-Reference
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