[Illusion]

CHICAGO -- Right-hander Carlos Zambrano and the Chicago Cubs agreed to a one-year, $6.5 million deal Saturday and avoided an arbitration hearing.

The Cubs have signed all of their arbitration-eligible players. Pitchers and catchers report to Mesa, Ariz., for spring training next Wednesday.

Zambrano pitched 223 innings last season with a 14-6 record, 3.26 ERA and 202 strikeouts in 33 starts. He made $3.76 million last season and had asked for a raise to $7.2 million in arbitration. The Cubs offered $6 million.

Known for his emotional displays on the mound, the 6-foot-5, 255-pound Zambrano has emerged as the ace at 24 after two seasons of injuries to Kerry Wood and Mark Prior.

Zambrano has a 48-35 career record with a 3.26 ERA. He made the NL All-Star team in 2004 when he went 16-8 with a 2.75 ERA.

[Illusion]

He's a great pitcher and the Cubs should really look at locking him up long term.

[BuddyBear]

exactly Illusion...he gets overshadowed by Woods and Prior but this guy is the real deal....the Cubs should make every effort to lock this guy up for the rest of the decade and forseeable future.

[bigboydan]

the cubs are still probly worried about him being on the net so much. the worry about him getting carpal tunnel syndrome.