Report: Phillies open to 3-year contract for Arrieta

Spring training is underway for most of baseball, and while Jake Arrieta remains unemployed, it appears the pitcher might now have an offer in hand from the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Phillies are open to a three-year contract for Arrieta, according to sources of MLB.com's Todd Zolecki, who reports they've been unwilling to make a six- or seven-year commitment - the kind of offer sought by Arrieta and his agent Scott Boras - to the free-agent right-hander.

It was reported earlier this week the Phillies were having dialogue with Arrieta, according to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, and owner John Middleton confirmed the team is looking at multiple avenues to improve.

"I would tell you we're not just looking at free agents. We're talking to teams about trades because there are players that we would trade for," he explained.

Phillies GM Matt Klentak and president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail - both of whom were members of the Baltimore Orioles when Arrieta pitched there - apparently love the 2015 Cy Young winner.

The Phillies already invested three years and $60 million in first baseman Carlos Santana earlier this offseason and it appears money isn't going to be a problem for Philadelphia, whose 2018 payroll is currently the lowest in MLB, according to spotrac.

"We want to improve the team, we're always trying to improve the team, but we've got to do it a way that makes sense now and next year," Middleton explained. "We don't want to sacrifice something significant in the future by making a short-term move. Whether it's a trade or a signing, if we get the deal we think is right, we'll do it. We'll pull the trigger. Money is zero object. No object whatsoever."

In eight big-league seasons, Arrieta owns an 88-56 record, including a 3.57 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. He was 22-6 with a 1.77 ERA during his Cy Young season in 2015.