Epstein: Cubs plan to stay in touch with Arrieta, Davis

It may have appeared like the return of pitchers Jake Arrieta and Wade Davis to Chicago were unlikely after the Cubs signed Tyler Chatwood and Brandon Morrow over the past week, but that might not be the case.

President of baseball operations Theo Epstein told a group of reporters, including The Athletic's Sahadev Sharma, that the Cubs haven't ruled out a return for either pitcher.

Epstein said he has plans to talk with Davis' agent B.B. Abbott at the winter meetings or shortly thereafter, and expects to stay in touch with Arrieta's agent, Scott Boras.

"Jake and Wade were huge parts of the team last year," Epstein explained. "In Jake’s case, a huge part of the turnaround of the franchise. We’re not ruling anything out even as we acknowledge it can be difficult to squeeze all this talent on the roster. These guys reach free agency, become more expensive and deservedly so considering what they’ve done in their careers."

The Cubs reportedly met with Arrieta and his representatives at the GM meetings in November, but have not spoken with them since, while news surrounding the Cubs and Davis had been quiet until this point.

Arrieta, the 2015 National League Cy Young winner, was 14-10 with a 3.53 ERA in 30 starts for the Cubs last season. In five seasons in Chicago, the 31-year-old was 68-31 with a 2.73 ERA and 1.03 WHIP.

Davis, 32, put together a fine season as the Cubs closer in 2017 - his first with the team. Across 59 appearances, he saved 32 games and struck out 12.1 hitters per nine, although that did come with the highest walk rate of his career (4.3 BB9).