The Cubs and infielder Munenori Kawasaki have agreed to a minor league contract, reports Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter). Kawasaki is a client of Relativity Sports.

The entirety of the the 34-year-old Kawasaki’s Major League career has come with the Mariners and Blue Jays over the past four seasons, during which time he’s batted a combined .234/.314/.284 while seeing time at second base, third base and shortstop. Kawasaki brings a light bat, to be sure, but his exuberance in interviews and over-the-top sense of humor made him a favorite of both fans and teammates alike over the course of his time with the Blue Jays.

I have MANY years of experience in trying to appreciate steaming piles of dogshit.

Oh great a new meme.

Oh great a new meme.

The future holds the possibility to be great or terrible, and since it has not yet occurred it remains simultaneously both.

(CBS/AP) — A person familiar with the negotiations says Chicago Cubs ace Jake Arrieta has agreed to a $10.7 million, one-year contract, avoiding arbitration with the highest one-year deal for a pitcher with four years of major league service.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on Friday night on condition of anonymity because the contract had not been announced by the team.

Arrieta, who turns 30 in March, had a breakout season last year, helping the Cubs to an NL wild card. The NL Cy Young Award winner finished with a 22-6 record and a 1.77 ERA, easily cruising past most of his previous career highs.

That marks a significant raise for Arrieta, who made $3.63 million in 2015. It’s a deserved raise too, as he’s coming off a season in which he went 22-6 with a 1.77 ERA and submitted the best second half of a season for a pitcher in baseball history.

Arrieta’s new salary represents approximately a middle point of the sides’ previously exchanged figures. The Cubs’ figure was $7.5 million, while Arrieta’s was $13 million. Had the sides gone to arbitration, an arbiter would’ve had to choose one of those two salary figures (not a midpoint), based off the salaries of pitchers of similar service time and accomplishment.

The Cubs have never gone to arbitration with a player since president of baseball operations Theo Epstein came to Chicago in October 2011.

Arrieta’s under team control through 2017, and he’s represented by powerful agent Scott Boras, whose high-profile clients often head to the open market.

I have MANY years of experience in trying to appreciate steaming piles of dogshit.

Cubs sign the Cy Young award wining pitcher Jake Arrieta to a one year deal, avoiding arbitration. Arrieta will get 10.7 million in 2016.

Speaking of Japan...Thunder Matt is coming back!

Laurence Holmes is a fucking weirdo, a nerd in denial, and a wannabe. Not a very good radio host either.

He won't sniff the major league roster.

Laurence Holmes is a fucking weirdo, a nerd in denial, and a wannabe. Not a very good radio host either.

Over your guy Sczur ? And Bryant can play all 3 positions if need be.. I'd rather carry an extra arm like Tim Lincecum.

Over your guy Sczur ? And Bryant can play all 3 positions if need be.. I'd rather carry an extra arm like Tim Lincecum.

Laurence Holmes is a fucking weirdo, a nerd in denial, and a wannabe. Not a very good radio host either.

Cubs or Orioles will grab The Freak, its a good get.

Laurence Holmes is a fucking weirdo, a nerd in denial, and a wannabe. Not a very good radio host either.

I don't think he wants to go back to SF and I'm not sure they want him. Plenty of teams want to take a flyer on him though..I'm only hoping the Cubs can land him.

Thank God they will not.

[ The days of signing older washed up players are over..

Lincecum is a winner and a guy who went to the bullpen without a peep to help the squad after winning 2 Cy Youngs as a starter.

Dude can play on my team anytime

Laurence Holmes is a fucking weirdo, a nerd in denial, and a wannabe. Not a very good radio host either.

Exactly.. And he just had surgery on his hip, it was messing up his delivery.. I just hope the Cubs can land him, I bet there a dozen teams or more wanting to sign him on the cheap.

Manny Parra minor league deal

Baffles me. The guy has a 4.90 career ERA. They have enough lefties already. Can't see him making the team, but maybe another guy to stash at AAA in case of injury.

Guess it doesn't really baffle you, then.

Never can have enough left handed pitching especially cheap bullpen help.