One of the greatest "what ifs" among Cubs fans involves the team's decision to sign free-agent pitcher Yu Darvish instead of retaining 2015 National League Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta after the 2017 season.
That debate _ barring a postponement or other change _ will resurface Monday night as Arrieta is lined up to face Darvish when the Phillies visit the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
The Cubs never found any common negotiating ground with Arrieta, who went 68-31 with a 2.73 ERA in 4 { seasons with the Cubs. Instead they signed Darvish to a six-year, $126 million contract in February of 2018.
Four weeks later, Arrieta signed a three-year, $75 million contract with the Phillies that includes a player opt-out after this season. That opt-out can be voided if the Phillies pick up a two-year, $40 million extension that runs through 2021.
Arrieta, 33, is 14-14 with a 3.92 ERA in 39 starts with the Phillies, and his statistics are considerably better than Darvish's 3-6 mark and 5.17 ERA in 16 Cubs starts.
Darvish, 32, was limited to eight starts in 2018 because of a right elbow injury that required surgery. Darvish has a better strikeouts per nine innings rate (10.8) than Arrieta (7.3) since joining the Cubs, but his walk rate (6.3) has infuriated Cubs fans.
Arrieta can continue to score points with Cubs fans with a standout performance Wednesday night against the Brewers _ the Cubs' NL Central rival.
