Levine: Cubs, Jake Arrieta Have Discussed 6-Year Deal
By Bruce Levine--
MESA, Ariz. (CBS) -- Reigning NL Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta confirmed a report that his agent, Scott Boras, and the Cubs have had contract talks this spring about a long-term deal.
Those discussions go back to this fall and winter, with a six-year, $130-million deal being asked for a few months ago in negotiations, sources said. There were many moving parts to the contract language that has yet to be agreed upon, a source said.
Arrieta was initially believed to be interested in a seven-year deal, MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported, but the sides had a gap in the contract length.
"I would not like to have a lot of open conversation about it during the season," Arrieta said Tuesday. "I think that adds distractions to some teammates, the city of Chicago in general. Once April is here, we just need to worry about winning games"
Arrieta signed a one-year, $10.7-million contract with the Cubs in early February, avoiding an arbitration case. That money was the highest settlement for a second-year arbitration pitcher in the history of that system. In winning the Cy Young in 2015, Arrieta went 22-6 record with a 1.77 ERA, which included a 0.75 ERA in the second half, the lowest in modern baseball history.
"Talking about the financial stuff kind of takes away from what we are doing as a team," Arrieta said. "I don't really like that."
The circumstances for Arrieta are a little different than the normal ace of a staff getting his big pay day. The powerful Boras usually wants his players to take advantage of reaching the open market, which Arrieta is set to do after 2017. In addition, Arrieta had struggled to get to a consistent level of excellence until he was traded to the Cubs in July 2013.
Arrieta was sheepish about talking about any details. He admitted that he and his family are well-compensated now by general standards.
"We are going to be all right financially," Arreita said. "So it's not much of an issue for me or a distraction. I am directly involved. Anything that happens, I want to be the first to know. Whether it's direct communication from Theo (Epstein) or Scott, both sides know I need to be in the loop. It is not OK otherwise."
Boras is handling the talks with Epstein, Arrieta said.
"We have talked," Arrieta said when asked if the talks have taken place this spring. " This is not a distraction for me."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
