The Philadelphia Phillies may be eyeing a veteran arm to help quicken their rise from rebuilding to contending.
Philadelphia is reportedly considering taking a run at former Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta, one of the top free-agent arms available this winter, according to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports.
It's not clear if the team has engaged his agent, Scott Boras, in any talks.
While the fit may seem odd at first glance - the Phillies are coming off a 96-loss season and aren't expected to contend for a playoff spot until 2019 at the earliest - the 31-year-old Arrieta could fit into their long-term plans as the steady veteran in an otherwise young group of starters. The Phillies' current projected rotation includes five pitchers who'll be 27 or younger on Opening Day, as was the case last year too.
PHILLIES' PROJECTED 2018 ROTATION
| Pitcher | Age (Yrs/Days) | MLB Service Time |
|---|---|---|
| Aaron Nola | 24-191 | 2.076 |
| Nick Pivetta | 24-301 | 0.129 |
| Vince Velasquez | 25-188 | 2.086 |
| Jerad Eickhoff | 27-163 | 2.045 |
| Ben Lively | 25-282 | 0.083 |
Arrieta wouldn't come to Philadelphia on the cheap, though. Boras sent a 75-page binder hailing the virtues of signing Arrieta to all 30 MLB owners this week, and he's eyeing a major payday for his client - perhaps in the $200-million range, according to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick.
Related - Signing Jake Arrieta: Pros, cons, and predictions
Signing Arrieta would also force the Phillies to send draft-pick compensation to what would be his former team, the Chicago Cubs, after he rejected a $17.4-million qualifying offer from the North Siders last month.
The Cubs are reportedly still interested in a reunion with Arrieta, though a report in November suggested the sides remain far apart. Other teams who have reportedly shown some level of interest in Arrieta this winter include the Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, Colorado Rockies, Houston Astros, and Toronto Blue Jays.
