Cubs, LHP Cotts agree on 2009 contract

Dec 12, 2008 - 11:58 PM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Chicago Cubs on Friday agreed to terms on a one-year contract with lefthander Neal Cotts, avoiding salary arbitration.

Financial terms were not announced, but the Chicago Tribune is reporting the pact to be worth $1.1 million.

Cotts, who turns 29 on March 25, went 0-2 with a 4.29 ERA in 50 appearances for the Cubs in 2008, serving as the club's primary lefthander out of the bullpen after being recalled from Class AAA Iowa on May 29.

He is 10-10 with one save and a 4.51 ERA in 265 major league appearances - five starts - with the Chicago White Sox and Cubs.

Cotts joins righthander Chad Gaudin, who also agreed to a one-year deal earlier in the day, as returnees in the Cubs' bullpen.