Ian Happ and the Cubs have avoided an arbitration hearing, agreeing to terms on a one-year contract for 2022 on Tuesday.
Happ became the first player in 31 years to beat the Cubs in arbitration last offseason, securing a $4.1 million salary in his first year of eligibility.
The Cubs and Happ settled on a $6.85 million salary for 2022, NBC Sports Chicago's Gordon Wittenmyer confirmed.
Tuesday was the deadline for teams and arbitration-eligible players to exchange salary figures for the 2022 season. Without an agreement, both sides must submit figures for a hearing with a panel of arbitrators.
The panel then selects either the player or team's figure after the hearing.
Happ experienced a four-month slump to start 2021 before finishing strong. Through July 31, Happ hit .180/.294/.326 with 10 home runs, 26 RBIs and 90 strikeouts in 93 games.
From Aug. 1 through the end of 2021 (55 games), he hit .288/.363/.581 with 15 home runs, 40 RBIs and 66 strikeouts.
In normal offseasons, the deadline for agreements typically lands in January, and hearings take place in February.
The process was pushed back due to MLB's lockout, and hearings will happen during the regular season this year.
Willson Contreras is also arbitration-eligible this offseason.