Eight Cubs players file for arbitration Tuesday night

Sep 21, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher

(37) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Eight Chicago Cubs players filed for salary arbitration on Tuesday night, according to Carrie Muskat of MLB.com, including starting pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Travis Wood and outfielder Nate Schierholtz.

Of the eight, Wood will likely gain the most from the hearing. According to MLBTR, the southpaw, who hit 200 innings pitched for the first time last season, as well as a career high in starts, is projected to receive roughly $3.6 million next season – a major raise from the $527,500 he earned in 2013.

The two sides, being the players and the Cubs organization, have not yet met, but will exchange figures on Friday if no agreements are reached prior to that. Arbitration hearings are slated for Feb. 1-21.

Samardzija made just over $2.6 million last year, and MLBTR projects he’ll almost double that figure next season, earning $4.9 million. He has been the subject of trade rumors throughout much of the offseason, but it appears that he will enter 2014 a member of the Cubs. The team is reportedly looking to trade him closer to the July Trade Deadline, when his stock is expected to be higher. Both sides remain open to the possibility of a contract extension, despite being ‘far apart’ in numbers.

Two key position players returning from last year – Barney and Schierholtz – are also slated for raises. The second baseman hit a career-high in home runs, doubles, at-bats and RBIs – and he is projected to make an additional $2.2 million on top of his $2.25 million salary from 2013.

Barney, who won his first career Gold Glove award in 2012 and finished among the finalists last season, is expected to receive a raise from $562,000 to $2.25 million.

Muskat also ran through the other Chicago names who are expected to file:

“Other Cubs to file Tuesday included James Russell ($1.075 million in 2013; projected $1.7 million in 2014); Pedro Strop ($502,500 in ’13; projected $1 million in ’14); Luis Valbuena ($930,000 in ’13; projected $1.5 million in ’14); and outfielder Justin Ruggiano ($494,500 in ’13; projected $1.8 million in ’14).”

146 Major League Baseball players filed for arbitration, according to MLB.com.