I did not expect this on a Friday night so I’m away from my computer picking up a birthday cake for The Little Girl, and pecking away at my phone! More soon!
But here’s the scoop:
Breaking: Jake Arrieta and the Cubs are getting close to a reunion
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 12, 2021
The Cubs have had serious interest in a reunion for a while, and it sounds like it’s going to happen. I am very down for this for reasons that go beyond nostalgia. Although Arrieta struggled in his time with the Phillies after departing the Cubs, he still has the diverse pitch mix, the athleticism, and the work ethic to reinvent himself. More soon.
UPDATE: It’s a healthy commitment on a one-year deal:
Jake Arrieta’s one-year agreement with the Cubs, pending physical, is worth $6 million guaranteed, according to a source familiar with the deal.
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) February 13, 2021
The market for one-year starters has been surprisingly strong this offseason, so Arrieta’s deal is in line with – for example – the deal Chris Archer got to reunite with the Rays, even after surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome. If you want the chance at veteran upside on a one-year deal – even where there’s plenty of risk – you have to pay for it.
For the Cubs, no one is expecting Arrieta to resume dominance. He’d be a veteran leader in the rotation, eating some innings, and with the bones to maybe turn things around a bit in a new/old organization. The Cubs have had a lot of success helping remake pitchers with stuff like Arrieta, so why couldn’t they work it with him? Especially given Arrieta’s ability to work on himself.
UPDATE 2: A little more local confirmation that this is happening:
Per source, Cubs are nearing a one-year contract with Jake Arrieta, pending physical. @JonHeyman was on it first.
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) February 13, 2021
UPDATE 3: The Cubs’ 40-man roster is full right now, and the Jake Marisnick signing is not yet official. So that means the Cubs will have to open up two spots to add Marisnick and Arrieta, officially.
UPDATE 4: Just stray stuff:
But that would be a very solid addition for this rotation, particularly when it comes packaged in a veteran who's a notoriously hard worker, a guy who will always grind, & brings an edge to a clubhouse in transition. Again, it's not all nostalgia here – in context, a lot to like.
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) February 13, 2021
https://twitter.com/MrsArrieta49/status/1360393148887891969
https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1355499700456218626
Hard to believe after the way everything came together in 2015 and 2016, but Jake Arrieta is the last pitcher to win a playoff game for the Cubs (Game 4 of the 2017 NLCS).
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) February 13, 2021
I can't lie. The nostalgia is strong for me because Jake was one of my favorite Cubs players to watch. Ever. I know it won't be the same, but you know what? Eff it. I'm gonna be excited tonight. pic.twitter.com/TPEYK0DFEx
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) February 13, 2021