Ranking the best suitors for Jake Arrieta

By Tre LyDay | Jan 11, 2018

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 18: Jake Arrieta #49 of the Chicago Cubs stands on the mound in the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game four of the National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field on October 18, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

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CHICAGO, IL – OCTOBER 19: Jose Quintana /

1. Chicago Cubs

The Cubs are obviously the best fit for the veteran. It’s where he’s spent the last five season, and really the only place he’s had a ton of success. The Cubs are going to overpay for him just like any other team that would sign him, but it’s probably their best option.

Pitching is what failed the Cubs last season, and Arrieta was one of those guys that failed them. But the Cubs may not land Yu Darvish, and if they whiff on both pitchers it’ll leave their staff shorthanded.

John Lackey does plan to pitch this upcoming season, but who knows how effective he’ll actually be. He didn’t have a good second half and ended the season with a 4.59 ERA which is not ideal. Jon Lester didn’t put up his usual numbers last season so he’s looking to have a bounce-back season. After Lester and Quintana the Cubs don’t have much.

Next: Yankees resume trade talks with Orioles

Kyle Hendricks might have been the best pitcher the Cubs had last season, but he only pitched 139.2 innings due to injury. Mike Montgomery is a true back end of the rotation guy and can’t be counted on to be a major contributor to the rotation.

Bringing back Arrieta may be the best option for the Cubs even if they have to overpay to do so. He’s already helped the Cubs to one World Series title, and the Cubs hope he can lead them to another one.

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