The Cubs are close to bringing back right-hander Jake Arrieta with a one-year deal, according to a source. The deal will pay Arrieta between $6.5 million and $7.5 million.
Arrieta pitched for the Cubs from 2013-17, playing a key role in their run to the 2016 World Series title. He won the National League Cy Young Award in 2015, when he went 22-6 with a 1.77 ERA. Arrieta also threw two no-hitters in his time with the Cubs.
The Cubs passed on re-signing him and turned to Yu Darvish instead, giving him a six-year, $126 million deal. Arrieta signed a three-year, $75 million with the Phillies. In that time, he went 22-23 with a 4.36 ERA in 64 starts. He struck out 280 and walked 124 in 352.2 innings.
Arrieta figures to slot third in the rotation, behind Kyle Hendricks and Zach Davies and in front of Trevor Williams. After trading Darvish to the Padres and letting Jon Lester and Jose Quintana leave, the Cubs were — and remain — in need of starting pitching.
Right-handers Alec Mills and Adbert Alzolay will compete for the fifth starter spot in spring training, which opens Wednesday in Mesa, Arizona.
While Arrieta provides the Cubs with some much needed experience, he has been injured each of the last three seasons, affecting his performance and availability.
The Cubs acquired Arrieta from the Orioles on July 2, 2013, in one of the best trades in team history. They received Arrieta, reliever Pedro Strop and cash for catcher Steve Clevenger and right-hander Scott Feldman.
With the Cubs, Arrieta went 68-31 with a 2.73 ERA in 128 starts. He struck out 793 and walked 244 in 803 innings.
