Starting pitcher Jake Arrieta is testing the free agent market this offseason, hoping to land a big deal. The Chicago Cubs are likely going to have to prepare for life without the right-hander in their rotation as they set their eyes on free agents like Alex Cobb.
But that doesn’t mean the two sides haven’t discussed Arrieta staying in Chicago.
According to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, the Cubs met with Arrieta at the General Manager Meetings in November to discuss a potential deal. The problem is that neither side could agree on the length of a contract.
The Cubs are hoping to lure Arrieta back on a short-term deal, while Arrieta wants somewhere between 6-7 years on his deal. You can’t blame Arrieta for wanting that as it’s likely his last big contract.
Here’s what Heyman wrote:
The Chicago Cubs met at the GM meetings on Jake Arrieta, and while they are interested, there’s still said to be a gap on the years – he wants long (six or seven years), they want shorter — and the sides aren’t believed to have spoken since the meetings.
Heyman continues about the Cubs interest in Cobb, Darvish and Lynn in the article. There’s some good stuff in there about the Cubs looking to spend for a big arm.
It’s very unlikely Arrieta ends up back in Chicago unless one side budges. At this point, we don’t see that happening. The two sides haven’t spoken since the GM Meetings.
The hot stove is more like cold stove right now but it’s going to heat up and do so in a hurry.
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