NEW YORK — The Cubs and catcher Willson Contreras avoided arbitration before their Thursday hearing, bucking the club’s usual “file and trial” policy.
The two parties agreed to a $9.625 million salary for 2022, a Sun-Times source confirmed, splitting the difference between the figures each side filed in March.
“I think if we had the regular time that we’ve had in years before, we would probably work it out,” Contreras told the Sun-Times in spring. “But this year, there’s basically no time to negotiate anything.”
Instead, the Cubs made time and made an exception after the lockout pushed back the arbitration calendar, forcing hearings into the regular season. Usually arbitration hearings are held in February.
Contreras is in his final year of club control and, unless he signs a contract extension, is expected to be the top all-around catcher in next year’s free agent class. He could also serve as a valuable trade candidate at the deadline.
“I’m not trying to think about it,” Contreras said this week of the trade deadline. “... If I happen to get traded, I hope it’s to a good team that has a chance to go to the World Series. Or if a trade doesn’t happen, I’ll be happy to stay and keep competing with my teammates.”
Contreras, leading qualified Cubs hitters in on-base percentage (.403) and slugging (.530) , is making a case for his third All-Star selection this year. He entered Thursday leading major-league catchers with 10 home runs already this season.
The Cubs looked poised to take Contreras to an arbitration hearing, with president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer reiterating early in the season that the Cubs’ policy is to end negotiations at the deadline to exchange figures. The late agreement, however, avoided an hours long process in which both sides make their cases in front of an independent panel.
