Cubs and Farnsworth avoid arbitration

[WebHamster]

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - The Chicago Cubs avoided arbitration with Kyle Farnsworth on Wednesday, signing the right-handed reliever to a one-year contract. Financial terms were not disclosed by the team.

Farnsworth, 27, appeared in a career-high 77 games last season for the Cubs, posting a 3-2 record and 3.30 ERA with 92 strikeouts in 76 1/3 innings.

When he broke into the league with Chicago in 1999, Farnsworth started 21 of the 27 games in which he appeared, going 5-9 with a 5.05 ERA. He started five games the following season, but has appeared exclusively as a reliever for the Cubs ever since.

Over five major league seasons, Farnsworth is 18-32 with a 4.78 ERA and four saves in 271 appearances.