UPDATE (5:15 p.m. ET): The Philadelphia Phillies reportedly have landed their new ace.
ORIGINAL STORY: It’s been an abnormally slow MLB offseason in terms of the open market, but marquee free agents have begun to start finding homes.
Yu Darvish served as one of the first chips to fall, signing a hefty free-agent deal with the Chicago Cubs in mid-February. Eric Hosmer and J.D. Martinez relocated not long after, inking long-term contracts with the San Diego Padres and Boston Red Sox, respectively.
There still are a number of big-name free agents out there, but it appears one of them will be off the market within the next week, as Jake Arrieta is expected to sign the dotted line in short time, per USA Today Sports’ Bob Nightengale.
Arrieta is coming off four-plus strong seasons with the Cubs, which included a National League Cy Young Award in 2015. Last season undoubtedly was his worst in Chicago, though, as he recorded double-digit losses for the first time in his career. But at 32, it’s hard to imagine Arrieta doesn’t have a lot left in the tank.
The veteran right-hander benefitted from a stellar lineup during his Cubs tenure, and it’s safe to say he won’t have that same luxury with the rebuilding Philadelphia Phillies.
