Arizona Diamondbacks, Bronson Arroyo make deal official

Aug 9, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher

(61) pitches during the second inning against the San Diego Padres at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports

Cross another potential pitching option for the Cubs off your list.

The Arizona Diamondbacks and free agent right-hander Bronson Arroyo have officially agreed to terms on a two-year deal that includes an option for a third year after he passed a physical Wednesday morning. He will be introduced at a news conference later today.

The deal is worth $23.5 million over the first two years, and the option for 2016 is worth $11 million with a $4.5 million buyout.

Rumors surfaced over the past month that the Cubs were, at the very least, kicking the tires on the veteran, although any real chance of signing him to a deal was slim due to the fact that Arroyo is likely approaching the final years of his career and wants to win before he retires. Chicago, at the current moment, isn’t exactly the best place to do so.

Arroyo, 36, is coming off a season with Cincinnati in which he posted a 3.79 ERA, a 3.65 K/BB ratio and over 200 innings pitched, marking the ninth consecutive season he has pitched a minimum of 199 innings. The right-hander was signed to address a major need in Arizona, after the team lost out on Masahiro Tanaka, who was introduced at a news conference Tuesday in the Bronx.

Chicago, which also failed to land Tanaka, despite an offer north of $120 million, looks to head into Spring Training with Jeff Samardzija at the helm of the rotation, coupled with Edwin Jackson and Travis Wood. The team has a plethora of options at the back end of the starting five, including a pair of former Baltimore Orioles – Jason Hammel and Jake Arrieta.

Other notable free agent options still available include Ervin Santana and Ubaldo Jimenez, who have failed to land a deal despite their solid 2013 campaigns with their respective clubs.