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Jake Arrieta dishes on his potential contract demands

By Joshua Sadlock

Nov 1, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jake Arrieta throws a pitch against the Cleveland Indians in the first inning in game six of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jake Arrieta throws a pitch against the Cleveland Indians in the first inning in game six of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jake Arrieta will enter free agency after the 2017 season, and he opened up about his potential contract demands.

After the 2017 season, Cubs ace Jake Arrieta will get to test the open market for the first, and possibly only time in his MLB career. Entering his age-31 season, the right-hander opened up to Jon Heyman of Fan Rag about the type of contract he plans to seek. There has not been any progress towards a long-term extension, and Scott Boras typically does not push his players to sign before testing the free-agent waters.

"“I don’t think a six- or seven-year deal is out of the question,” Arrieta said, pointing out the lengthy careers of Cub John Lackey and ex-Cub Rich Hill. “I feel very confident I can pitch until I’m 40. I do everything possible to make sure I’m healthy and durable. It could be six or seven more years. Or it could be 12.”"

If Arrieta does hold out for a seven-year deal, he may find few teams interested at his potential asking price. The early returns on the $200-million contracts for Zack Greinke and David Price, pitchers of similar age, have not been good. Greinke continues to deal with declining velocity, while an elbow injury will force Price to the DL to start the year.

Teams will be cautious with a power pitcher like Arrieta, as few long-term deals for pitchers look good in hindsight. As for pitching until he’s 40? Few pitchers have been able to sustain their careers that long in recent years, but Arrieta is a workout freak, and has fewer innings on his arm than other top pitchers.

After bombing out as a top prospect for the Baltimore Orioles, Arrieta has put it all together in Chicago. In parts of four seasons with the Cubs, he is 54-21 with a 2.52 ERA. He won the 2015 NL Cy Young after going 12-1 with a 0.75 ERA over his final 15 starts of the year. Arrieta came back down to earth slightly in 2016, but did win 18 games while throwing his second career no-hitter.

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If he is able to post a strong season in 2017, Arrieta will be able to find someone willing to pay him $200 million this offseason. The Cubs cannot be ruled out, but they do have to consider long-term deals for Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo.

The New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, and Washington Nationals all stand out as teams who could potentially offer big bucks to Arrieta. The Houston Astros or Texas Rangers could also emerge as surprise contenders to land Arrieta, who went to high school and college in Texas.

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