San Diego Padres Lose Out On Jake Arrieta to Phillies

According to multiple reports, free-agent hurler Jake Arrieta, a rumored target of the San Diego Padres, has reached a three-year, $75 million agreement with the Philadelphia Phillies.

As per NBC Sports Philadelphia, and other reports, free-agent ace Jake Arrieta has reached a three-year, $75 million agreement with the Philadelphia Phillies. The San Diego Padres were rumored this week to be having “serious internal discussions” regarding the front-end starter.

The 32-year-old veteran has been a force over the last few seasons, winning the National League Cy Young Award in 2015 with a 22-6 record and a 1.77 ERA. In the last two seasons, he’s seen his ERA jump to 3.10 and 3.53, respectively.

Although he hasn’t regained the form that put him among the conversation of elite MLB pitchers, adding a hurler of his caliber would considerably improve any staff in the entire league.

Arrieta figures to slide into the number-one spot in the Philadelphia rotation, ahead of Aaron Nola, Jerad Eickhoff, and young stud Vince Velasquez.

The Padres were hoping to plug Arrieta into the top of their rotation, but now must either turn their attention to other available free-agent (or otherwise) pitchers or head into the season with the staff they currently have in camp.

San Diego Padres’ options

After signing a one-year, $12 million deal with the Minnesota Twins, Lance Lynn is now off-the-board. Alex Cobb is still an available name that could certainly help shore up any internally-percieved deficiencies in the current projected Friars rotation.

As things stand now, the Padres have Clayton Richard, Dinelson Lamet, and Luis Perdomo inked in to maybe not necessarily the first three spots, but three spots nonetheless. After those three, guys like Bryan Mitchell, Matt Strahm, Robbie Erlin, Jordan Lyles, Colin Rea, and Tyson Ross are all vying for a spot in the Friars’ starting five.

Next: Tatis Won't Start Year With Padres

Only time will tell if AJ Preller decides to really jump into 2018 with both feet or not. The moves he’s made already have drastically improved this Padres’ team. A front-line starting pitcher would put them over the top. Alex Cobb may not be Jake Arrieta, but he would still surely make a difference.