According to a report from Jon Heyman, the Cubs and newly acquired OF Dexter Fowler agreed to terms on a one-year contract for $9.5 million.
The Cubs have agreed to terms on one-year deals with six of the team’s seven arbitration eligible players.
The Cubs reportedly signed RHP Jake Arrieta ($3.63 million), LHP Felix Doubront ($1.925 million), OF Chris Coghlan ($2.505 million), LHP Travis Wood ($5.685 million) and C Welington Castillo ($2.1 million) to one-year deals.
The Cubs and RHP Pedro Strop exchanged salary arbitration figures a week ago, figures submitted by the Cubs and Pedro Strop have not been leaked to the media.
The Cubs and INF Luis Valbuena agreed to terms on a one-year, $4.2 million contract before he was traded to Houston, along with RHP Dan Straily, last Monday for Dexter Fowler.
Dexter Fowler and the Astros did not agree to terms on a contract for the 2015 season prior to last Friday’s deadline to exchange salary arbitration figures. Fowler filed at $10.8 million and the Astros submitted an $8.5 million figure. The Cubs and Fowler settled for $150,000 less than the midpoint according to Jon Heyman.
Fowler batted .276/.375/.399 in 116 games for the Astros last season with 21 doubles, four triples and eight home runs for a .774 OPS. Fowler will become a free agent in November unless the Cubs extend his contract during the season. Fowler recently said he would be open to an extension with the Cubs.
Jed Hoyer said Monday that Joe Maddon will set the lineup. All signs are pointing to Fowler hitting leadoff for the Cubs during the 2015 season.
The Cubs added a leadoff hitter for a little less than $5 million more than what was committed to Luis Valbuena and Dan Straily.