Cubs and 2B Darwin Barney avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.3 million contract. Barney asked for $2.8 million and was offered $1.8 million from the Cubs when arbitration figures were exchanged last month. It took a couple of weeks for the two sides to find a middle ground. Barney, 28, batted just .208/.266/.303 in 141 games last season for Chicago and will likely be a non-tender candidate next winter.