Chicago Cubs: Choosing between Jake Arrieta and Shohei Otani

Chicago Cubs: Arrieta represents top-tier option this winter

Now that we’ve dug into Otani’s situation and the Cubs’ IFA restrictions let’s circle back to Jake Arrieta.

More from Cubbies Crib

• Make no mistake: the Cubs are very much about power hitters
• Cubs are giving pitcher Javier Assad a deserved shot
• Cubs: It’s time to start thinking about potential September call-ups
• Cubs: P.J. Higgins deserves to be in the lineup on a daily basis
• Cubs might start to limit Justin Steele’s workload soon

Dismissing Arrieta wouldn’t be an easy decision. His career enjoyed a remarkable turnaround since he was acquired by Epstein and donned a Cubs jersey in 2013. He owes a lot of his resurgence to pitching coach Chris Bosio and the Cubs’ faith in his stuff. As a Cub in his career, the 31-year-old is 68-30 with a 2.71 ERA. It’s tough to let those numbers go.

This season, he’s turned things around in the second half. Even with an injury that cost him two-plus weeks in September, the right-hander represents one of the club’s best starting pitchers this year. Since July, Arrieta has been right there with Kyle Hendricks regarding consistency.

He returned from the disabled list this weekend to lead Chicago to a win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday. In his first start back, he looked just as dominant as ever – lending a big boost to the Cubs’ rotation.

Arrieta’s price tag isn’t the only reason the Cubs have been reluctant of re-signing him. There’s a generational talent hopeful to make his way to North America from across the ocean: Shohei Otani.