“Market value or bust” is the platform that Cubs righty Jake Arrieta is intent to run on.
A day after Stephen Strasburg received a seven-year, $175 million extension from the Nationals, Arrieta is clearly seeing dollar signs as well.
“I’ll let you judge that,” said Arrieta to reporters on Wednesday when asked about what he thinks his own market will be, per Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times. “Just look at the numbers.”
Arrieta was then asked if he would take a hometown discount to remain in Chicago to which he replied frankly, “No.”
“I think I’ve made it clear I like Chicago. I think everybody knows that,” he continued. “If I had my way, I’d stay here. But that’s just one side of the story.”
The 30-year-old ace is said to be far apart from the Cubs in long-term extension talks, and it’s easy to see why he’s in no hurry to get a deal done. With a 42-13 record, a 2.15 ERA, and 484 strikeouts since joining Chicago in 2013, Arrieta could be the best pitcher in baseball right now, and he deserves to get paid as such.
Image Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
