Arrieta Looking To Make Six-Seven Year Deal, MLB Scores

National League Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta is looking for at least a six- to seven-year deal to remain with the club, according to the pitcher.

Arrieta and Chicago Cubs president Theo Epstein recently discussed parameters for an extension, but nothing is imminent. The sides talked several times this offseason but got only a one-year, $10.7 million deal done. After that was completed, Arrieta insisted that a longer-term deal would have to be for six or seven years, as there would be no point in a three- to four-year contract that would take him only a year or two past free agency. Arrieta has two seasons remaining before he reaches free agency.

"We've talked," Arrieta said Tuesday morning from Cubs camp. "It's really not much of an issue for me as a distraction."

Arrieta, who went 22-6 with a 1.77 ERA last season, is more concerned with it becoming a distraction for the team, so he won't let it become a big deal as the Cubs embark on a highly anticipated season after falling short in the NLCS last year.

"Guys have reiterated not to let it bother you, and it hasn't," he said. "It's a natural progression of where I'm at in my career and what I've been able to do. It comes with the territory. It's not much of a distraction for me, and I don't want it to be a distraction for anyone in this clubhouse."

Talks don't have the same kind of urgency they might have a year from now. The pitcher stressed the "small window" that athletes have to maximize their earning, but at the same time he wouldn't say that the decision comes down exclusively to money.

"Money can only make you so happy," Arrieta said. "I love my teammates, and I love Chicago. Those are more important than the contract extension for me."

Tuesday, March 8 Scoreboard

Boston 5, Baltimore 1

Detriot 6, Tampa Bay 5

St. Louis 5, Minnesota 3

Atlanta 5, New York Mets 4

Washington 4, Houston 2

Philadelphia 4, Pittsburgh 2

Miami 1, New York Yankees 0

Toronto 9, Minnesota 3

Chicago White Sox 10, Milwaukee 6

Cleveland 4, Seattle 3

Kansas City 3, Colorado 2

Texas 10, Oakland 3

Los Angeles Dodgers 7, Chicago Cubs 2

Arizona 8, San Diego 8

Los Angeles Angels 5, Arizona 3

San Francisco 16, Cincinnati 7

Wednesday, March 9 Schedule (All Times Central)

Washington at Detroit, 12:05 p.m

Philadelphia at Minnesota, 12:05 p.m.

Atlanta at Houston, 12:05 p.m.

Baltimore at Philadelphia, 12:05 p.m.

Boston at Pittsburgh, 12:05 p.m.

Miami at St. Louis, 12:05 p.m.

Toronto at Tampa Bay, 12:05 p.m.

New York at New York, 12:10 p.m.

Oakland at Chicago, 2:05 p.m.

Milwaukee at Kansas City, 2:05 p.m.

Cleveland at Chicago, 2:05 p.m.

Texas at Cincinnati, 2:05 p.m.

Colorado at San Francisco, 2:05 p.m.

Los Angeles at Los Angeles, 2:10 p.m.

Kansas City at Seattle, 2:10 p.m.

San Diego at Arizona, 2:10 p.m.