As Expected, Cubs Tender Contracts To 4 Key Pitchers

(CBS) As expected, the Cubs on Friday night tendered contracts to pitchers Jake Arrieta, Hector Rondon, Pedro Strop and Justin Grimm, keeping them under team control in 2017.

All four are arbitration eligible. The Cubs can either reach a contract agreement with each respective player or head to arbitration later in the offseason to decide what each will make in 2017.

The Cubs declined to tender contracts to left-hander Zac Rosscup, left-hander Gerardo Concepcion, right-hander Conor Mullee and infielder Christian Villanueva. They'll all become free agents. None were arbitration eligible.

Arrieta was 18-8 with a 3.10 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 2016.

Rondon had a 3.53 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in 54 games, while Strop had a 2.85 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in 54 appearances. Grimm had a 4.10 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in 68 appearances.

The Cubs' 40-man roster is now at 35 players.