Cubs Sign Marmol, Millar

Baseball in Illinois News
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.


 

Cubs, Millar may be near Minors deal

Baseball in Illinois News Sources
courtesy of MLB.com

CHICAGO ILLINOIS -- It could be a fun Spring Training camp for the Cubs if Kevin Millar is in the mix.


Millar, 38, and the Cubs have been talking about the first baseman signing a Minor League deal. ESPN.com reported Monday that Millar had agreed to such a contract. However, a team spokesman said Monday that no agreement has been reached.

Millar is a former teammate of Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster and the two engaged in a friendly war of words during Spring Training 2008. Dempster predicted the Cubs would win the World Series that season. Millar fired back that his team, then the Orioles, would raise the trophy in October and also that he'd go deep off Dempster. The Cubs and Orioles met that season in Interleague Play.

A career .274 hitter, Millar has hit 170 home runs in 12 seasons with Florida, Boston, Baltimore and Toronto. Last season, he batted .223 in 78 games with the Blue Jays.