Jake Arrieta, Yu Darvish and decision time: Inside the Cubs' take-it-or-leave it offer

Bob Nightengale | USA TODAY

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SAN FRANCISCO — Philadelphia Phillies ace Jake Arrieta’s cell phone buzzed Saturday. He looked down and laughed. It was his old teammate in Chicago.

“There’s no way you’re ducking the Cubbies this series,’’ Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo said in a text message. “I was going to have Joe (Maddon) lead me off so I could take you deep.’’

Arrieta wasted no time, quickly checked the NL Central standings, and responded: “Hey, I’m just trying to help you guys catch Milwaukee.’’

Arrieta may not be pitching against the Cubs when the Phillies open a three-game series Tuesday at Wrigley Field, but it won’t stop the rehashing of sentiments, the opening of fresh wounds, and a dissection of what went awry in negotiations that led Arrieta to Philadelphia, directed Yu Darvish to Chicago, leaving a passionate fan base grumbling.

It has been nearly four months since the Cubs chose Darvish over Arrieta, and to this day, Arrieta wonders why his negotiations with Cubs president Theo Epstein consisted of one brief phone call when he was offered $120 million over six years. Less than 24 hours later, the Cubs signed Darvish to a six-year, $126 million deal.

“It was a take-it-or-leave-it situation, and I didn’t like that,’’ Arrieta told USA TODAY Sports in a 40-minute interview. “I thought I was afforded a little more respect than that. I was in a situation where I would have appreciated some negotiations.

“Brittany (his wife) and I were already pretty convinced we weren’t going back. Was there a part of me that wanted to go back? Of course. I mean, who wouldn’t want to?

“Then, I get that phone call that the offer is on the table, and the emotions are crazy. Man, are we about to go back to Chicago? It was exciting. It was upsetting. Theo made it clear: If you don’t want this deal, then we are going to try to sign Darvish as soon as possible. They signed him the next day.’’

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In reality, that last-minute contract offer may have been merely a courtesy call out of respect, knowing Arrieta would reject it.

“That’s how I felt,’’ Arrieta said, “because of the way he wasn’t willing to negotiate. I think in his mind, he was like, 'OK, we’ll make this offer, and if he signs, awesome. And if he doesn’t, I’m OK with that, too.’ That’s how I felt.

“Obviously, they appreciated the past and what I’ve done there, but moving forward, they felt I wasn’t the best option for them. And that’s fine. They’re allowed to feel that way.’’

It’s just that Arrieta believes they signed the wrong guy, and he may have the entire city of Chicago agreeing with him. While Arrieta has been everything the Phillies envisioned - 5-3 with a 2.66 ERA, yielding a 0.90 ERA in May - Darvish has so far been a disaster. He’s 1-3 with 4.95 ERA, and already twice has been on the disabled list, failing to make it out of the fifth inning in five of his eight starts. It hasn’t been much better for the Cubs’ other free-agent starter, Tyler Chatwood, who is 3-4 with a 4.02 ERA, and leads the league with 49 walks in 53 2/3 innings after signing a three-year, $38 million deal.

“It’s frustrating, I’m sure for them,’’ Arrieta says. “I’m sure people are comparing them to me at length. They probably heard enough of it. And I don’t blame them. I wouldn’t want to hear about it either.

“It doesn’t mean they won’t really be good for that organization."

Certainly Cubs fans are taking notice, with catcher Chris Jimenez telling the Chicago Sun-Times that Darvish believes that Chicago already hates him. Then, again, it could be worse. Arrieta could be pitching against the Cubs this series, reminding everyone what they had when he went 68-31 with a 2.73 ERA, winning one Cy Young award, five postseason games and a World Series.

“I really wish I was pitching that series,’’ says Arrieta, whose fastball is back to 94 mph. “Not where I want to shove it up their a-- or whatever, but I like pitching in that ballpark.

“(Tommy) LaStella has been talking a lot of trash, too. A lot of trash. He’s saying he wants to waffle me all over the yard. I’d like to strike him out three times.’’

Arrieta and his family have plans with a gaggle of former teammates this week, yet even after the get-togethers, the hugs and well-wishes, and the video board tribute, Arrieta wouldn’t mind a moment of quiet time with Epstein, and finding out exactly what happened. The Cubs, after all, spent a guaranteed $164 million on Darvish and Chatwood while he signed a three-year, $75 million guarantee that’s potentially worth $135 million over five years.

“I don’t know if he’ll ever say for sure what exactly happened,’’ Arrieta says. “I don’t know. He doesn’t have to. Maybe him and me will talk about it. We’ll see.

“Zero hard feelings. It’s a business. And at the end of the day, that’s what you have to remind yourself of.’’

Cubs officials have maintained they knew for years Arrieta always wanted a contract larger than Jon Lester’s six-year, $155 million deal. They understood. Arrieta won more games than any pitcher in baseball the past three years, and only three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers had a lower ERA than Arrieta’s 2.67 since 2014.

Still, the Cubs were wary. Arrieta's fastball decreased in velocity from 93.7 mph to 92.1 mph last year. His strikeout rate plummeted in the past two years. And they were desperate to stay under the $197 million luxury tax.

While Darvish is guaranteed $126 million with an opt-out after next season, he has an annual average salary of $21 million - $4 million less than Arrieta’s. Arrieta earns $30 million this year, $25 million in 2019 with a $20 million player option in 2020. The contract also includes two club option years at $20 million in 2021-22 that could escalate to $30 million a year.

“My understanding is that the luxury tax prevented Theo from signing Jake,’’ agent Scott Boras said. “The door was closed. They didn’t want to go above Lester and wanted to stay around the $21 million (annual) level. This wasn’t Arrieta versus Darvish. It was Jake versus the luxury tax.

“When Theo called, he pretty much wanted to let him know that if you want Darvish money, then I might want you.’’

Arrieta rejected his only offer on Feb. 9, believing someone would give him at least a three-year guarantee. Yet, he had to wait another month before signing with the Phillies, with owner John Middleton even sending the Phillies’ private plane to bring him to spring training.

“The luxury tax, I get all of that,’’ Arrieta says, “but when you’re running a professional organization, and the end goal is to win a World Series, what does it matter if you sacrifice a few million dollars here and there? We all know these owners didn’t get rich by their baseball teams, they’re billionaires from their other businesses. If I was a billionaire, and I’m going to buy a team, I’m going to do whatever I can to put the best team on the field.

“That’s why last winter was frustrating for me and so many other guys. Anybody who says it wasn’t frustrating is lying. I pride myself on what I do, and when you go all winter waiting for an offer, you feel undervalued, unwanted.’’

Certainly, as much as the Cubs could use him now, trailing the Brewers by two games, it could have been much worse. Arrieta could have wound up pitching for one of their NL Central rivals.

“We talked to St. Louis, and there was an outside chance I’d go there,’’ Arrieta said. “Milwaukee was talking, but no numbers were discussed over two months of conversations, which I don’t understand.

“I don’t know, I guess guys don’t think I’m that good anymore. I don’t care. I intend to take the ball every five days, put up numbers, and be pretty damn good.’’

The way Arrieta envisions it, he’ll be pitching so well it will be a no-brainer for the Phillies to pick up the option years after next season, perhaps right after picking up the confetti from their World Series parade.

“I don’t see why the organization wouldn’t want to pick up my option two years,’’ Arrieta says. “And if they don’t want to do that, it gives me the opportunity to opt out. I’m not saying that’s what I’m going to do, but it’s a business decision that will have to be made on both sides.

“I love it here. I really do. We have shown we can beat anybody, but we’ve shown our youth, too.’’

And just like his early days in Chicago, there will be frustrations along the way. He’s anchoring a young team that has lost at least 89 games the last five years, finishing in last or next-to-last each season. He knows he needs to not only deliver on the field, but also in the clubhouse, lashing out Sunday after they were swept by the San Francisco Giants.

This is Arrieta. It’s what made him beloved in Chicago, and now treasured in Philadelphia.

“There’s a tremendous amount of responsibility here,’’ Arrieta says. “We got an owner here that wants to win. He’s an aggressive guy. It’s refreshing to have an owner like that.

“I look at it as an opportunity, and if there are no expectations, then why are we doing this? Bring it on.’’

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