Chicago Cubs Weekend Update: Garza, Concepcion, Miller

The Chicago Cubs had a busy week -- they avoided arbitration with Matt Garza, signed Gerardo Concepcion and Trever Miller, and signed twenty-one others to minor league contracts. Here's what we covered on the Cubs over the past week, along with a great story from Bleed Cubbie Blue about the club investing in the Dominican Republic:

• Chicago Cubs, Matt Garza agree to 1-Year, $9.5M Deal - MLB Daily Dish
  The Chicago Cubs have signed Matt Garza to a 1-year, $9.5 million contract with bonuses, according to his agency, CAA Baseball. Garza and the Cubs thus avoid arbitration. Garza had filed for $10.225 million while the team offered $7.95 million -- so the agreed upon $9.5M is just over the halfway point.

Cubs To Build Baseball Academy In The Dominican Republic - Bleed Cubbie Blue
It will be located in La Gina and at 50 acres, the Cubs' new baseball academy will be the largest property of any academy in the D.R. In addition to baseball training, the academy will house the players and serve as an educational center.

It will be a year-round training facility for major league players (during the offseason) as well as minor league players. In addition to the Dominican Republic, the academy will serve players from many other countries, including Venezuela, Panama, Colombia, Brazil, Nicaragua, Aruba, Curacao and Mexico.

• Chicago Cubs Sign Gerardo Concepcion - MLB Daily Dish
  According to Jorge Ebro of El Nuevo Herald, the Chicago Cubs have signed 18-year-old Cuban southpaw Gerardo Concepcion. Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes reports Concepcion landed a $7 million guaranteed contract with incentives that could kick it up to $8 million.
• Chicago Cubs Sign Trever Miller to Minor League Deal - MLB Daily Dish
  The Chicago Cubs have signed lefty Trever Miller to a minor league deal, according to Jayson Stark. The deal is worth $800 thousand if he makes the big leagues.
• Chicago Cubs Invite 21 To Camp, Sign Edgar Gonzalez And Matt Tolbert - MLB Daily Dish
  For the Chicago Cubs, pitchers and catchers report to major league spring training February 18 in Mesa, Arizona and they have invited twenty-one non-roster players to camp, the club announced in a press release today. While some are prospects, like Trey McNutt and Brett Jackson, there are also a couple other of names of notice in Edgar Gonzalez and Matt Tolbert.
• Chicago Cubs Complete Organizational Chart - MLB Daily Dish
  A complete, live chart of the Chicago Cubs organization -- leadership, rosters, salaries, arbitration and options, as well as prospect rankings.