Chicago, IL (Betting Express) - The Chicago Cubs agreed to terms with free agent reliever LaTroy Hawkins on a two-year contract with a third-year player option for the 2006 season. Financial terms were not released.

The 30-year-old Hawkins finished 9-3 with a 1.86 ERA and two saves last season for Minnesota. He served as a key setup man out of the bullpen for the Twins, who lost to the New York Yankees in the ALDS.

The addition of Hawkins, a righthander, will provide much needed support for the Cubs, who are currently unsure if free-agent relievers Antonio Alfonseca and Mark Guthrie will return to Chicago for the upcoming campaign.

With a lifetime record of 44-57 over nine seasons with Minnesota, Hawkins has steadily improved to become one of the more respected relief pitchers in the game. He was a starter in 1999 and posted a 10-14 record before being moved to the bullpen. In 2001, as the Twins' closer, he notched 28 saves.

During the 2002 campaign with the Twins, his first full season as a setup man, Hawkins was 6-0 with a 2.13 earned run average.