The Chicago Cubs wrapped up a busy week yesterday, agreeing to a one-year, $8.95 million deal with third baseman Aramis Ramirez and a one-year, $3.76 million contract with right-hander Carlos Zambrano.
The pair were the last two Cubs in arbitration to settle among the five who filed last month.
Starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano re-signed with the Chicago Cubs for a one-year deal worth $3.76 million.
(Keith Srakocic - AP)
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Ramirez had a breakout year offensively in 2004, hitting a team-best .318 with a career-high 36 homers and 103 RBI. His 36 homers was a club record for a third baseman.
The 26-year-old is a career .273 hitter with 127 homers and 458 RBI in five-plus seasons with Pittsburgh and Chicago.
Zambrano went 16-8 in 31 starts with a 2.75 ERA. He struck out 188 in 209 2/3 innings. He is 34-29 with a 3.25 ERA in three full seasons with the Cubs.
• BLUE JAYS: Infielder Shea Hillenbrand avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.87 million contract with Toronto. Hillenbrand, acquired from the Diamondbacks last month, hit .310 last season with 15 home runs.
• ROCKIES: Right-hander Shawn Chacon and Colorado avoided arbitration, agreeing to a one-year, $2.35 million contract. Chacon, 27, was 11-8 as a starter in 2003 before being converted to a closer last year. He saved 35 games last year but posted a 7.11 ERA.
• BREWERS: Infielder Junior Spivey and Milwaukee agreed to a one-year deal worth $2,125,000, and Milwaukee also gave infielder Jeff Cirillo a minor league contract.
Spivey, 30, batted .272 with seven homers and 28 RBI in 59 games for Milwaukee last season. Cirillo, 35, played for Milwaukee from 1994 to '99.
• ATHLETICS: Outfielder Eric Byrnes agreed to a one-year, $2.2 million contract. Byrnes, 28, hit .283 with 20 home runs and 73 RBI last season.
• RANGERS: Texas agreed to a one-year, $800,000 contract with 35-year-old right-hander Pedro Astacio. Astacio, who has made just one start since shoulder surgery in 2003, is 118-109 lifetime.
• YANKEES: Reliever Buddy Groom, 39, agreed to a minor league contract. He was 4-1 with a 4.78 ERA in 60 games for the Orioles last year.
