Are The Cubs Better Off With Yu Darvish Than Jake Arrieta?

The Chicago Cubs have persuaded free agent pitcher Yu Darvish to sign a six year, $126 million contract to come to Wrigleyville.

This effectively means that Jake Arrieta's tenure with the Cubs is over. Arrieta had been seeking a contract in the range $200 million. The most the Cubs were willing to offer was in the neighborhood of $110 million over four years. That would amount to $27.5 million per year as opposed to $21 million Darvish will get. But why were the Cubs willing to give Darvish six years and Arrieta only four? Arrieta is only six months older than Darvish.

It might come down to strikeouts. Although Darvish had a so-so 10-12 record with a 3.86 ERA with both the Texas Rangers and the Los Angeles Dodgers last year, he also fanned 209 batters in only 186 2/3 innings pitched. Meanwhile, Arrieta went 14-10 with a 3.53 but fanned 163 batters in 168 1/3 innings pitched.

It could also be the case the Cubs think Arrieta had a career year when he won the NL Cy Young Award in 2015 and will not reach those heights again. Then again Darvish has been a .500 pitcher since coming back from Tommy John surgery in 2016.

The question remains is where Arrieta will end up. The Brewers? The Nationals? Perhaps Southern California - Angels or Dodgers? But it won't be in the Windy City.