For the first time ever in the Theo Epstein era with the Chicago Cubs, a player couldn’t agree on salary with the team and went to an arbitration hearing to settle the case. As expected, Justin Grimm didn’t win, as he was given a $2.2 million salary for the 2018 season.
#Cubs win arbitration case against Justin Grimm, who is out of minor-league options and will earn $2.2 million if he makes the Opening Day bullpen.
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) February 8, 2018
He was asking for $2.475 million.
Grimm, 29, had a pretty bad 2017 season, which included getting sent down to Triple-A a few times. The right-handed reliever is out of minor-league options with the Cubs.
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There’s a chance Grimm doesn’t even make the Cubs 25-man roster out of spring training and if that’s the case he’ll only get between $300,000 and $400,000.
After a phenomenal 2015 season, Grimm struggled with his command and in 2017 he reached the low point. The right-hander had a 5.53 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in 55.1 innings, while allowing 12 home runs.
