The Cubs and Carlos Zambrano reached agreement Tuesday on a one-year, $12 million contract and avoided arbitration. The Cubs had hoped to settle before a 2 p.m. MST hearing at the Phoenix Hyatt. On Feb. 15, the Minnesota Twins and Michael Cuddyer settled on a one-year deal minutes before his arbitration hearing began. Zambrano, 25, who made $6.5 million last year, was seeking $15.5 million. The Cubs countered with an offer of $11.025 million before the deal was reached. The right-hander posted a 16-7 record and 3.41 ERA in 33 starts last season, matching his career high in wins. Cubs manager Lou Piniella has named Big Z his Opening Day starter. "I would say it's 85 to 90 percent that we don't go to arbitration," Zambrano said Monday. "We'll see it on the news [Tuesday] morning hopefully."