Report: Cubs, Arrieta avoid arbitration with $10.7M deal

CHICAGO - A person familiar with the negotiations says Chicago Cubs ace Jake Arrieta has agreed to a one-year, $10.7-million contract, avoiding arbitration with the highest one-year deal for a pitcher with four years of major-league service.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on Friday night on condition of anonymity because the contract had not been announced by the team.

Arrieta made $3.63 million last year. He had asked for $13 million and the team had offered $7.5 million, the largest gap among players who filed for arbitration.

Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer and Arrieta have had ongoing conversations about a potential long-term contract extension that would at least buy out the hurler's last two years of arbitration eligibility through the 2017 season.

Related: Cubs, Arrieta talking extension ahead of arbitration

Arrieta, who turns 30 in March, had a breakout season last year, helping the Cubs to an NL wild card. The NL Cy Young Award winner finished with a 22-6 record and a 1.77 ERA, easily cruising past most of his previous career highs. His outstanding second half, in which he posted a remarkable 12-1 mark with a 0.75 ERA, solidified his standing as one of the league's top starting pitchers.