The Cubs on Wednesday struck a one-year contract with left-hander Sean Marshall to avoid arbitration.
The club didn't announce terms of Marshall's new deal, but Brewers assistant general manager Gord Ash mentioned Marshall on Tuesday, along with Detroit's Zach Miner and Kansas City's Robinson Tejada, as recent signees who helped Milwaukee reach terms with arbitration-eligible reliever Carlos Villanueva. Miner, Tejada and Villanueva all will earn the same salary -- $950,000 -- in 2010.
Marshall, who will be competing for a spot in the Cubs rotation or could be a swingman again, asked for $1.175 million in arbitration, while the Cubs offered $800,000. He made $450,000 last season.
With Marshall under contract, the Cubs have only two arbitration-eligible players left unsigned, and they are key ones. Shortstop Ryan Theriot, who made $500,000 last season in his third year as a starter, is seeking $3.4 million, while Chicago offered $2.6 million. Reliever Carlos Marmol who made $575,000 last year and heads into the 2010 season as the team's closer, is asking for $2.5 million. The Cubs offered him $1.75 million.