Garza, Cubs agree to $9.5 million, 1-year deal

CHICAGO - Right-hander Matt Garza agreed to a $9.5 million, one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs, just before the scheduled start of a salary arbitration hearing in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Yesterday's agreement was $725,000 below the midpoint between the $12.5 million the pitcher had asked for in arbitration last month and $7.95 million the Cubs had offered.

Garza was acquired from Tampa Bay in January 2011 and went 10-10 with a 3.32 ERA in his first season with the Cubs, when he made $5.95 million. He had a team-high 197 strikeouts in 198 innings.