Cubs Agree On Contract With Ex-Tribe Standout

The Chicago Cubs agreed to a $550,000, one-year contract with free agent outfielder Matt Mieske Monday.

Mieske, a former Spokane Indians standout, who can earn an additional $400,000 in performance bonuses, spent the past five seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers. He played in 84 games last season, batting .249 with five home runs, 15 doubles and 21 RBIs.

Mieske’s best season was in 1996, when he hit .278 and had 14 home runs and 64 RBIs.

He became a free agent Dec. 20 when Milwaukee failed to offer a 1998 contract.

Mieske was the Northwest League’s most valuable player as a San Diego Padres farmhand at Spokane in 1990. He led the NWL in games (76), at-bats (291), runs (59), home runs (12) and RBIs (63), and was second in average (.340), hits (99) and doubles (20).