Chicago Cubs, Willson Contreras avoid arbitration; source says deal worth $9.625 million

The Chicago Cubs and Willson Contreras have reached an agreement on a contract for the 2022 season, with a source telling ESPN's Jesse Rogers that the catcher will make $9.625 million.

The Cubs and Contreras came to terms just before an arbitration hearing that was scheduled for Thursday. The deal is halfway between the $9 million and $10.25 million that the Cubs and Contreras had filed for, respectively,when figures were exchanged March 22.

The agreement is a bit of a surprise after Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said in April that the sides would go to a hearing. This year was an exception, a source said, due to the nature of an in-season hearing. Arbitration hearings are typically done in January and February, but the MLB lockout forced them to be heard during the baseball season.

Contreras, 30, is in the midst of his best offensive year,batting .277 with 10 home runs and 23 RBIs in 47 games. The two-time All-Star is in his seventh season with the Cubs, batting .260 with 105 home runs and 333 RBIs in 669 career games.