"The Cubs and pitcher Matt Garza avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $9.5 million contract just before they were to go through the arbitration process Friday morning.

Garza, who was 10-10 with a 3.32 ERA in hist first season as a Cub, had been seeking $12.5 million and the Cubs had offered $7.95. Garza's new deal also includes performance bonuses."