courtesy MLB.com
The Cubs signed Carlos Marmol to a one-year, $2.125 million contract Thursday, avoiding arbitration with their closer.
Marmol, 27, who made $575,000 last year, was asking for $2.5 million while the Cubs offered $1.75 million.
The Cubs also signed veteran Kevin Millar to a Minor League contract Thursday, creating a crowd at first base.
Millar will be vying for attention at first with former teammate Derrek Lee, Chad Tracy, who signed a Minor League deal on Jan. 27, and Micah Hoffpauir.
Only shortstop Ryan Theriot remains unsigned of the team's arbitration-eligible players. Theriot, 30, who made $500,000 last season, his third as the starting shortstop, is seeking $3.4 million, while the Cubs offered $2.6 million.