PEORIA, Ariz. – More pressing than a possible extension, the Cubs and Willson Contreras have to decide what the catcher will be paid this season.
Unable to settle on a contract for 2022, the two parties will schedule an arbitration hearing, ESPN reported. Tuesday was the deadline to exchange salary figures with any unsigned arbitration-eligible players.
The Cubs had only two: Contreras and outfielder Ian Happ. Happ and the Cubs avoided arbitration, settling at $6.85 million, FanSided reported. Opening Day is scheduled for April 7, making it likely that hearings extend into the regular season.
Usually the deadline to exchange figures would come in January, with hearings in February.