Geovany Soto Signs 1-Year Contract With Chicago Cubs, Avoids Arbitration

Jan 17 2:44p by Bradley Woodrum

The Chicago Cubs have reportedly signed Geovany Soto to a 1-year deal worth $4.3M, thereby avoiding arbitration with the 7-year pro.

Since taking over the starting catching duties for the Cubs in 2008, Soto has hit a strong .254/.347/.452 slash to go with his 71 career homers. Despite battling various injuries over the past three years, Soto managed to hit 17 homers in 474 plate appearances in 2011. However, he has missed time for a variety of issues -- such as his recurring knee and shoulder problems -- and has taken four trips to the 15-Day DL since 2009.

Soto won the 2008 Rookie of Year award as a 25-year-old after seven seasons in the Cubs' minor league system. Having acrued over four years of service time at the major league level, Soto became arbitration eligible for the first time in 2012 and is slated to become a free agent in 2014.

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