Cubs News: Two teams appear favorites to land Jake Arrieta |
The Winter GM meetings start up on Monday as various general managers and baseball minds try to work out deals to improve their ballclub for years to come.
One of the biggest topics that will be discussed is what is the future destination for standout starting pitcher Jake Arrieta. ESPN's senior writer Jerry Crasnick polled 40 baseball executives at the meeting in Orlando, Fl. and the Texas Rangers were the overwhelming favorite to land Arrieta. "The industry love for the Rangers is attributable to two factors: 1) Texas needs pitching help; and 2) Arrieta grew up in the Lone Star State and played at Texas Christian University," Crasnick said. The team with the second-highest votes from baseball executives to land Arrieta is the Cubs. "After a bunch of back and forth, I see the Cubs and Arrieta realizing that they are meant for each other," an AL scout said. "He got his career on track there and they won a World Series. Why leave now when they know each other best?" In 2017, Arrieta had a 14-10 record with 3.53 ERA, 163 strikeouts, and 1.22 WHIP. It appears unlikely that the Cubs will be able to re-sign him for megabucks because his agent Scott Boras is looking for a massive seven-year contract with potential suitors. However, if the market runs dry on that type of long-term deal, then the Cubs would be in play at a shorter term deal worth around $20-$25 million per year. Other teams that were mentioned to have interest in Arrieta according to the poll were the Phillies, Dodgers, Angels, Mariners, Yankees, Braves, Blue Jays, and Nationals.
