The Marlins and infielder Jorge Cantu avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.5 million extenstion, according to a major-league source.
The Marlins signed Cantu prior to spring training last season after he was released by the Reds. Cantu responded by setting a career high in home runs with 29. He also led the Marlins in RBIs with 95. Cantu hit 28 home runs and 117 RBIs with the Rays in 2005, but that season was starting to look like a fluke before last year's surge. Cantu made $600,000 last year as the Marlins' primary third baseman. He also saw action at first base.
