Back to the Chicago Cubs Newsfeed

Kris Bryant, Cubs avoid arbitration with $18.6 million agreement for 2020; Albert Almora gets $1.575 million

With a legitimate trade speculation looming in the background, three-time All-Star Kris Bryant on Friday avoided arbitration with the Cubs by agreeing to a one-year, $18.6 million contract, sources say.

It’s a 44 percent increase over his $12.9 million salary in 2019.

While that settled one immediate question about his future, the next one involves who will be paying the $18.6 million by the time the season starts.

The Cubs have spent the entirety of a $2 billion free agency winter hibernating — one of only two teams that have not added a non-split, major-league contract to the roster.