Chicago Cubs chances of bring back Jake Arrieta dwindling

The Chicago Cubs will undoubtedly be big players in the starting pitcher market this winter. But recent decisions around the league may have hampered their chances of retaining Jake Arrieta.

Since joining the Chicago Cubs, right-hander Jake Arrieta went from a subpar fringe arm with great potential to one of the best pitchers in the National League. He won the 2015 NL Cy Young Award thanks to a historic second-half and played an integral role in the team’s three-straight League Championship Series appearances.

For me personally, there are few Cubs players I appreciate and respect more than Arrieta. When the Los Angeles Dodgers handed Chicago an exit from the postseason, I was 100 percent onboard the ‘bring back Jake Arrieta’ train. I didn’t care what it cost – I wanted him back.

To a degree, I’m still aboard that train. But the decisions of several notable starting pitchers around the league in recent days may push Arrieta’s asking price to a level that could prove foolhardy for the Cubs to meet.

Here’s a look at those decisions and what the market looks like heading into the offseason.