Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - The Chicago Cubs and pitcher Chad Gaudin agreed to a one-year contract on Friday, thus avoiding arbitration. Per club policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Gaudin, 25, was acquired last season by the Cubs from the Oakland Athletics in a six-player deal on July 8. The right-hander went 5-3 with a 3.59 earned run average in 26 games (six starts) with the A's and posted a 4-2 record with a 6.26 ERA in 24 relief appearances with the NL Central champion Cubs.
The six-year veteran has gone 28-25 with two saves and a 4.45 ERA in 185 career games (50 starts) with Tampa Bay, Toronto, Oakland and the Cubs.
Chicago also avoided salary arbitration with left-handed pitcher Neal Cotts, agreeing to a one-year contract, while doing the same with outfielder Reed Johnson.
Cotts, who turns 29 on March 25, went 0-2 with a 4.29 ERA in 50 games for the Cubs in 2008.
Signed by the Cubs last March 25 after being released by the Toronto Blue Jays, Johnson batted .303 with 21 doubles, six home runs and 50 RBI in 109 games with the Cubs last season.
