Major League Baseball

Nady and Cubs finalize $3.3 million, 1-year deal

Published Jan. 29, 2010 8:21 p.m. ET

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Xavier Nady insisted his best days are ahead, and the Chicago Cubs would love to see him prove it after finalizing his $3.3 million, one-year contract.

The deal, agreed to earlier this week, was contingent on the 31-year-old outfielder passing a physical - he had his second elbow ligament replacement surgery last July and appeared in only seven games with the New York Yankees last season.

``I feel like my best years are yet to come,'' Nady said Friday during a conference call. ``I feel like I've improved each year. I have a better understanding of what I need to do, whether it's in the box or on the field, to become a better player. ... I feel like when I am healthy, I'm a very productive player and a guy who can play everyday.''

Nady batted .305 with 25 homers and 97 RBIs in 148 games with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Yankees in 2008. He is a career .304 hitter in 28 games at Wrigley Field and will be part of an outfield mix that includes Alfonso Soriano, Kosuke Fukudome and newly acquired Marlon Byrd.

In addition to the base salary, Nady could earn another $2.05 million in performance bonuses based on games.

``With the whole health situation, a lot of uncertainty comes with it,'' he said. ``But I think I've shown that when I am healthy, I'm productive.''

General manager Jim Hendry insisted the Cubs weren't trying to put pressure on Soriano and Fukudome, who both struggled last season.

``We feel we got an everyday, legitimate five-hole hitter,'' Hendry said.

He expects Nady to open the season on the active roster, even though Nady isn't sure his arm will be at full strength. The elbow isn't affecting his swing. Throwing, however, is a problem at the moment, and he said it's tough to tell where he's at percentage-wise.

``We're really optimistic,'' agent Scott Boras said. ``X is ahead of schedule with all of his physical therapy, his treatments, his programs. I think really it's more of an issue of X feeling that good, not to rush it too much, as opposed to any concerns that have come up.''

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