With fellow lefty reliever Will Ohman gone in a trade, the Cubs decided to keep Neal Cotts on the roster. The Cubs and Cotts agreed on a one-year contract to avoid arbitration, reports MLB.com. The AP says the deal is worth $800K, $25K less than he made in 2007.

Cotts struggled in five appearances in mid-to-late May, allowing 9 runs in 6 innings, resulting in his demotion to Iowa, as he had options remaining when the Cubs decided to recall Sean Marshall. In 50 innings for Iowa, Cotts had a 4.83 ERA, as he walked too many batters (30), but most of those difficulties occurred while he was in Iowa's starting rotation. After returning to the bullpen, Cotts had a 2.67 ERA in 27 innings over 18 games, though he still walked too many (15).

Last year I said that Neil Cotts was going to bring a lot of value to the Cubbies, and that the trade that sent David Aardsma to the White Sox in return was not a bad deal. As of now, having witnessed yesterday's two pitch debacle by Cotts, in which he gave up a bases loaded home-run to A.J. Pierzynski, I eat my words. (Aardsma of course is doing great for the South Siders.)

I wondered about Lou Piniella's judgment when Cotts was called in to relieve Zambrano, given that this was a high tension moment and Cotts might not relish it. Then when I realized he was facing A.J., the one guy on the White Sox who probably understands his pitching better than anyone, I got really scared.

The Chicago Tribune quotes Lou Piniella as saying in response to a question on what he sees in Neal Cotts: "I see he gives up runs every time he pitches."

Cotts has allowed 12 runs (8 earned) in 8 innings this spring, on 19 hits allowed. The Cubs acquired Cotts from the Chicago White Sox in November in exchange for David Aardsma. Aardsma isn't faring so hot himself this spring, having allowed 8 runs in 6.2 innings.

Cotts had kinda, sorta been considered as a candidate for the starting rotation until his poor performance this spring. Now he just needs to worry about making the team, especially with Piniella talking about taking 11 pitchers north instead of 12.

(Courtesy of The Sports Xchange) Since 1993, when Mark Grace lost in an arbitration hearing, the Cubs have always settled up with arbitration-eligible players before the process went before an independent arbiter.

The Cubs' thinking is that it's an ugly process that usually causes hard feelings between the player and the team.

Star pitcher Carlos Zambrano and the Cubs are still far apart in their negotiations but have plenty of time to iron things out. Zambrano's hearing date is Feb. 20 in Phoenix.

"The Chicago Cubs took care of one of their arbitration-eligible players on Wednesday when they settled on a one-year, $825,000 contract with left-handed pitcher Neal Cotts," reports MLB.com. The Cubs' 2007 40-man roster payroll now stands at approximately $101.9M, with Carlos Zambrano, Mark Prior, and Will Ohman still to sign 2007 contracts.

OK, someone's going to have to explain this one: "The Cubs acquired left-handed reliever Neal Cotts from the Chicago White Sox on Thursday in exchange for relief pitcher David Aardsma and minor-league pitcher Carlos Vasquez," reports the AP. Cotts was very good in 2005, but hasn't been much to write home about either before or since. Aardsma was the better pitcher in 2006 (3 RAA v. -2 RAA). And he's likely to be the better pitcher going forward.

The Cubs just traded for Neal Cotts, thereby securing a pretty darned good relief pitcher. Going to the South Side is David Aardsma, and a minor league pitcher (Vazquez). From what I have seen of Cotts, I like this trade for the Cubbies.
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