According to multiple reports, the Cubs and Jake Arrieta have avoided arbitration with a one-year contract for the upcoming season.
Jake Arrieta has agreed to a record contract for a second year arbitration eligible pitcher. Arrieta will reportedly make $10.7 million, surpassing David Price’s record of $10.1125 million in 2013. David Price made $4.35 million in 2012 and jumped to $10.1125 million in his second year of arbitration.
The Cubs and Arrieta had an arbitration hearing scheduled for Tuesday. The two sides have avoided what can be a very ugly part of the process. The Cubs have not gone to arbitration with a player under the current front office. And Theo Epstein remains perfect in settling with his players before the hearing.
Jake Arrieta received more than the midpoint in the salary numbers ($10.25 million) that were submitted last month. Arrieta asked for $13 million for the upcoming season. The Cubs countered with $7.5 million. Arrieta made $3.63 million last season and projections had Arrieta receiving between $10-11 million for the 2016 season.
Jake Arrieta followed up his breakout 2014 season with a dominant year than included an historic second half and was topped off with a National League Cy Young Award.
The Cubs have not confirmed signing Arrieta to a contract for the upcoming season.
Jake Arrieta was 22-6 with a 1.77 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 2.35 FIP. Arrieta gave up 52 runs, 45 earned, on 150 hits with 48 walks and 236 strikeouts over 229 innings in 33 starts. Arrieta became the Cubs first 20-game winner in 14 years and he was the first Cubs’ pitcher since Greg Maddux (1992) to win the NL Cy Young Award.
Arrieta posted a 9-5 mark in 15 starts at Wrigley with a 1.97 ERA and 0.85 WHIP and in 18 road starts, Arrieta was 13-1 with a 1.60 ERA and 0.87 WHIP.
Jake Arrieta put together the best second half in the history of the game that included his first no-hitter on Aug. 30 at Dodger Stadium. In 15 starts, Arrieta was 12-1 with a 0.75 ERA and 0.72 WHIP. Arrieta allowed 12 runs, nine earned, on 55 hits with 23 walks and 113 strikeouts in 107 1/3 innings.
Arrieta’s .075 ERA after the break with the lowest post All-Star break ERA in big league history. And he did not allow a run in his last 22 innings of the regular season. The Cubs only loss in his last 15 starts of the regular season was on July 25 when The No-Hit Streak ended.
Arrieta had an ERA of 0.41 from August 1 through the end of the regular season. Over his last 12 starts, Arrieta did not allow a run nine times, gave up one earned run twice and allowed two earned runs in one start.
Arrieta made 11 six-plus inning scoreless starts, the most by a Cubs’ pitcher since 1914 and he broke the All-Time scoreless innings streak at Wrigley Field previously held by Bob Gibson (1965-66). Arrieta did not allow a run at Wrigley over his last 40 2/3 innings in his home park.
The Cubs have avoided arbitration with all nine arbitration eligible players on the 40-man roster: Jake Arrieta ($10.7 million), Travis Wood ($6.17 million), Justin Grimm ($1.275 million), Rex Brothers ($1.42 million), Clayton Richard ($2 million, plus incentives), Hector Rondon ($4.2 million), Adam Warren ($1.7 million), Pedro Strop ($4.4 million) and Chris Coghlan ($4.8 million).