The Cubs have agreed on a salary to avoid arbitration with star righty Jake Arrieta, per Jon Heyman of Fan Rag (via Twitter). He’ll receive $15.6375MM in his final trip through the arb process.
MLBTR’s model had projected Arrieta to earn $16.8MM, but as MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz explained recently, it seemed likelier that he’d land closer to the $16MM level when analyzing comps. The deal exceeds the $15.525MM contract reached by Max Scherzer and the Tigers before the 2014 season, though unsurprisingly Arrieta comes nowhere near the year-over-year raise achieved that year by Scherzer.
It remains unclear whether Chicago will be able to work out a longer-term arrangement with the talented righty, who is now 30 years of age. He didn’t come anywhere near repeating his 2015 Cy Young campaign in his most recent season, but Arrieta still turned in a productive year. Over 197 1/3 innings, he pitched to a 3.10 ERA with 8.7 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9.
Not quite what his farewell QO will be..
I’m the lone wolf on them reaching an agreement. At some point the organization has to show SOME loyalty. This only means they bend and Jake bends and they find a figure. A pitcher that no one wants to face doesn’t come around too often. And Arrieta will realize he won’t pitch to 2014 levels consistently anymore. Will the Cubs overpay a little for his age 35,36 season? Yeah a little. But it will be worth when they when 2 more World Series between age 32-35!! Did I mention the unbelievable shape he is in? If u can pay Fried chicken eating, beer drinking John Lackey 17 million a year to pitch at age 36 and 37 you darn better we’ll do it for Jake Arrieta.
John Lackey was still productive at those ages and we have no idea what jake will do so I’m not sure I understand that point. Also not sure how loyalty works here. The cubs took a shot on him from the O’s and fixed him, and now he’s good. If they can’t meet a mutual valuation of his services he reaches the fa market where 29 other teams will be able to make their own and eventually reach an understanding with him. Players do it all the time.
I hope he resigns. 5/150
I don’t think cubs have a problem paying him 17 millions a year for 4 years! But he wants 5 plus years around $150 million! Cubs won’t do that nor any team will!
He got what he deserves, No more or no less.
Arrieta’s blessing is also is curse: he’s a late bloomer, but he doesn’t have a broad enough track record to justify $30M/yr for 5 years. Cubs brass may feel their best option is to let the season play out and bid for him on the open market next winter. Can’t fault them for that.
He’s a Boras client, when is the last time one of those negotiated an extension before hitting FA?
Doesn’t matter what the Cubs want, it matters what Boras wants and that’s to have his client on the open market & squeeze every dime he can for a late blooming pitcher that hasn’t a proven track record to elicit the kind of money he wants him to get as an “ace”.
I believe their best bet is to move him before the deadline & get something in return (i like a Sonny Gray swap). Because soon they’ll have to come up with the money for Rizzo and/or Bryant.