Report: Cubs, Arrieta haven't spoken since GM meetings

There may be significant hurdles to overcome for Jake Arrieta to return to the North Side.

The Chicago Cubs reportedly met with Arrieta and his representatives during the general manager's meetings in Florida earlier this month but have not spoken to one another since then, according to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports.

There is reportedly a gap between the Cubs and Arrieta over the preferred length of contract. Arrieta is said to be asking for longer term, perhaps six or seven years according to Heyman, while the Cubs are apparently balking at that request.

Related - Signing Jake Arrieta: Pros, cons, and predictions

Arrieta broke out as a star in Chicago over the last four-plus seasons. Since joining the Cubs in 2013, he's thrown two no-hitters and won the 2015 NL Cy Young, while also coming up big in the playoffs each of the last two seasons - including during the Cubs' championship-winning 2016 campaign.

Other teams that have reportedly shown interest in signing Arrieta this winter include the St. Louis Cardinals, Milwaukee Brewers, Colorado Rockies, and Toronto Blue Jays.

The Cubs, meanwhile, are also said to have interest in other available free-agent pitchers besides Arrieta, including former Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Alex Cobb, per Heyman.