The pairing of Jake Arrieta and the Philadelphia Phillies might not seem as far-fetched as it appears from afar.
Arrieta, 31, and agent Scott Boras haven't been shy about the pitcher's credentials that suggest he deserves a contract of up to seven years, which likely will scare teams such as the Cubs.
But throughout the 2017 season, the Phillies sent different scouts to several of Arrieta's starts.
Although the Phillies are in a rebuild mode, Arrieta would provide them with an ace who could consume a large chuck of innings while their younger players mature.
The National League East also isn't the most formidable division, with the Miami Marlins in a tear-down mode, the Atlanta Braves are trying to rebuild and New York Mets in a state of flux, leaving the Washington Nationals as the lone perennial threat.
Arrieta's potential link to the Phillies was first reported by FanRagSports.com, which added that several Phillies front-office members worked in Baltimore, where Arrieta started his career and struggled before the Cubs acquired him midway through the 2013 season.
Arrieta, 14-10 with a 3.53 ERA in 168 1/3 innings in 2017, missed 2 { weeks in September because of a strained right hamstring but has made at least 30 starts in each of the last three seasons.
