I think you probably know that no Cub has actually gone to arbitration since Mark Grace in 1993 (he lost), and no one has done it with Jim Hendry as GM.
So I'm pretty sure he'd rather have Ryan Theriot and Carlos Marmol signed before it comes to the "a" word, and I just wish I could get in that room when they're having the chat to keep them from getting there.
If you don't know how arbitration works, here's as simple as I can make it: Player A has been in MLB for at least 3 years but not more than 6, he and his team (Team A) can't agree on a salary. They go in a room with 3 pro sports arbitrators. Player A tells them why he should be making what he wants. Then Team A tells them why player A should be making what they want. Then the panel decides if Player A should get what he wants or what the team wants.
There's a bunch of other stuff about a "super 2" player and free agency and stuff, you can read about it here or here.
I have no idea what kind of money the Cubs have right now, but both Ryan and Carlos will be Cubs in 2010, and have pretty important roles.
The thing to think about is, with all the hype about the farm, how long will Ryan be a Cub and could this be his last year. And Carlos, does he get a longer term contract signed now or later?
Honestly, I don't know squat about this money part of baseball, but I do know that making this art was fun.
And lets see... the Cubs are supposedly talking to a reliever named Kiko Calero for late inning help.
And then there's the apparently untrue rumor that Ben Sheets was like, already a Cub but we just didn't know it.
Ahh, Hot Stove crap.
