Chicago Cubs Rumors: Team's top free agent target should be Jake Arrieta

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MILWAUKEE, WI – APRIL 09: Jake Arrieta #49 of the Chicago Cubs throws a pitch during the fourth inning of a game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on April 9, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

Right-hander Jake Arrieta will hit the open market this winter as a free agent. And, if the Chicago Cubs want to do themselves a favor, they need to make bringing him back a top priority.

If you frequent our site, you’ll know that I’ve gone back and forth on this matter for some time. Suffice to say, in June, bringing back Jake Arrieta ranked very low on my priority list. But, given his resurgence, the Chicago Cubs must do so this winter.

Just as quickly as Cubs fans chalked him up as a loss, he once again proved doubters wrong. On May 14, his earned run average spiked at 5.44. Since then, he’s shaved nearly two full runs off that mark, showing just how dominant he’s capable of being.

I still doubt a $200 million contract is in the cards, but Arrieta deserves a payday. And, if one takes a look at the list of pitchers set to hit the open market, well, suffice to say there’s not a lot that inspires confidence.

The Chicago Cubs know what they have in Jake Arrieta. A workhorse with relatively few innings on his arm (at least compared to others his age) who, above all else, desires to win championships.

CHICAGO, IL – JUNE 06: Starting pitcher Jake Arrieta #49 of the Chicago Cubs walks off the field after the 1st inning against the Miami Marlins at Wrigley Field on June 6, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs Rumors: Arrieta proving his mettle of-late

Since the aforementioned May 14 low-point, Arrieta failed to pitch at least six innings just five times – and two of those were 5 2/3 inning efforts. After the calendar flipped to July, he has not allowed more than three earned runs in a start.

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To be blunt, he’s been good.

In the month of July, Arrieta posted a 2.25 ERA in five starts. Entering play on Tuesday, the right-hander performed even better, with a 1.44 earned run average in five August outings. In mid-May, he was a fringe candidate for the postseason starting rotation. Now, he’s a lock.

Jon Lester is working his way back from injury. Jose Quintana hasn’t been what many expected. Kyle Hendricks and Mike Montgomery are probably the two strongest starting pitchers in the rotation right now, along with Arrieta.

Now, he won’t go winning any Cy Young Awards this time around, but he may be even more important to the Cubs in 2017 than two years ago.

CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 26: Jake Arrieta #49 of the Chicago Cubs walks off the field after the fifth inning against the Cleveland Indians in Game Two of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field on October 26, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs Rumors: Quality is hard to find

The list of impending free agents is a mixed bag, to put it mildly.

You have names like Yu Darvish, Lance Lynn, Derek Holland. Recognizable to pretty much every common baseball fan. But you have the flip side – names that are recognizable, but for the wrong reasons.

Brett Anderson. John Lackey (who’s nearing 40). C.C. Sabathia. Bartolo Colon.

Suffice to say, those aren’t names you’re willing to stake your postseason hopes on. Arrieta, however, is the opposite. There are other options in the upcoming free agent class. But, to be short, I think Arrieta represents the Cubs’ best shot at long-term success.

Arrieta doesn’t turn 32 till next spring. He pitched more than 200 innings just one time in his big-league career. A low workload and a history of consistent performance on the North Side? Seems like a sure-fire solution to the Cubs’ pitching problem

CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 26: Jake Arrieta #49 of the Chicago Cubs looks on prior to Game Two of the 2016 World Series against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field on October 26, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs Rumors: Follow the money – you earned it

Money.

It makes the world go round. And it may derail the Chicago Cubs’ hopes of bringing back Jake Arrieta. Why? There’s always a team willing to spend too much money on any given player.

And, given the relative weakness of the starting pitching class, it makes sense. Teams around baseball will likely line up for Arrieta’s services this offseason. But with tens of millions of dollars coming off the books after this year, the Cubs have arguably the most financial flexibility in the league.

Will Jake Arrieta finish his career with the Cubs? At this point, nobody knows. But for Chicago to address their biggest weakness this winter, bringing back Jake Arrieta makes a whole lot of sense.

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