San Diego Padres Are Serious About Arrieta (Reports)

According to a report from Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, the San Diego Padres have had serious internal discussions regarding signing the All-Star, Cy Young Award-winning pitcher.

“Jake Arrieta to San Diego Padres.”  This headline would only make the rumor mills a few days back.  Come 2018, everything is plausible for the A.J.Preller-led San Diego Padres!

Jon Heyman, an MLB insider for FanRag Sports broke the news today that the Padres are seriously discussing (at least internally)the possibility of adding Arrieta.

"“The San Diego Padres surprised folks by signing Eric Hosmer, who was arguably the top position player on the market. And now word is they have at least been talking internally about Jake Arrieta.”Jon Heyman, FanRag Sports 3/8/2018"

It will be interesting to see what the San Diego Padres’ front office could come up with.  A reliable pitcher is most definitely the need-of-the-hour for the Padres.  But can they convince Arrieta to come to San Diego?

San Diego Padres need Jake Arrieta

Clayton Richard is their Opening Day pitcher and at 34, he is certainly not in the same league as Jake Arrieta.  Bryan Mitchell, Luis Perdomo, Dinelson Lamet, and Matt Strahm could certainly use some more experience on the mound.

The addition of Jake Arrieta would come as a blessing in disguise for Andy Green who will have to come up with the rotation in the next few days.

Arrieta turned 32 a couple of days ago.  He is still young and would be a leader to the young Padres’ pitching group.

He has not been injured in the last four years, the Padres can look to him to consistently pitch around 200 innings every year.  His ERA of 3.57 is leaps-and-bounds ahead of any hurler the Friars currently have.

I recently wrote an article on FOB about why this team should make a run at Jake Arrieta.

Why Jake Arrieta must sign with the Padres

Jake has been patient and has said he wants to wait and watch what happens in what has turned out to be an underwhelming market.  He has been vocal about not wanting to be underpaid.

However, Jake Arrieta, a World Series winner in 2016 could conceivably get a chance to contend for the World Series again in the next couple of years if he chose to come to San Diego.  Make no mistake about this though, the young Friars should be ready to compete by 2020.

Arrieta would also get the chance to be a leader of this young core of Friars’ pitchers.  He would be respected and would also have an opportunity to give back to the game which has given so much to him.

Next: El Paso Roster Projections

There is no dearth of superstars in the San Diego Padres’ line-up (Eric Hosmer, Wil Myers).  Having played in Baltimore and Chicago previously, San Diego could be a nice change of scenery.

Even if he has to take a pay-cut, we all hope Jake Arrieta will sign with the Friars.