LHP Neal Cotts agrees to 1-year, $800,000 deal with Chicago Cubs

CHICAGO (AP) -The Chicago Cubs and left-hander Neal Cotts agreed to a one-year, $800,000 contract Thursday and avoided salary arbitration.

Cotts began last season with the Cubs and was 0-1 with a 4.86 ERA in 16 relief appearances before he was sent to Triple-A Iowa on May 20. He never returned to the big leagues, going 2-2 with a 4.83 ERA in 24 appearances, including six starts.

Cotts was a key reliever for the 2005 World Series winning Chicago White Sox. He was traded to the Cubs for right-hander David Aardsma and minor league pitcher Carlos Vasquez on Nov. 16, 2006.

His deal includes performance bonuses of $25,000 for each plateau of 50, 55 or 60 games.