Cubs and Jake Arrieta allegedly close to an agreement (UPDATES)

Cubs and Jake Arrieta allegedly close to an agreement (UPDATES)

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I didn’t expect this on a Friday night, so I’m away from my computer, picking up a birthday cake for the girl and pecking at my phone! Early!

But here’s the scoop:

Cubs have had a keen interest in a meeting for some time, and it looks like that will happen. I am very sad for this, for reasons that go beyond nostalgia. Although Arrieta struggled in his time with the Phillies after leaving the Cubs, he still has the diverse mix of field, athletics and work ethic to reinvent himself. Early.

UPDATE: it’s a healthy commitment in a one-year business:

The one-year starter market has been surprisingly strong in this off-season, so Arrieta’s business is in line with – for example – the deal that Chris Archer was able to secure with Rays, even after surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome. If you want to have the chance to be a veteran in a one-year business – even when there is a lot of risk – you have to pay for it.

For the Cubs, no one expects Arrieta to regain control. He would be a veteran leader in the rotation, eating a few entries and with the bones to perhaps turn things around a little in a new / old organization. The Cubs were very successful in helping to remake pitchers with things like Arrieta, so why couldn’t they work with him? Mainly due to Arrieta’s ability to work with himself.

UPDATE 2: A little more local confirmation that this is happening:

UPDATE 3: The Cubs’ 40-man roster is now full, and Jake Marisnick’s hiring is not yet official. This means that the Cubs will have to open two vacancies to officially add Marisnick and Arrieta.

UPDATE 4: Just missing things:

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