Report: Arrieta on Nationals' radar
The Washington Nationals have a history of signing Scott Boras clients, and they appear interested in acquiring another one.
Free-agent starting pitcher Jake Arrieta is on Washington's radar, according to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports.
Heyman's report follows a similar one from ESPN's Jerry Crasnick, in which sources said Boras was trying to engage the Nationals on Arrieta.
The top two pitchers in Washington's rotation, Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg, are also Boras clients. So are outfielder Bryce Harper, third baseman Anthony Rendon, and catcher Matt Wieters.
One MLB executive told Crasnick that Boras is seeking a long-term contract in the $200-million range for Arrieta.
The super-agent has a history of getting big money and lengthy term for starting pitchers in Washington. He secured a seven-year, $210-million contract for Scherzer in 2015 and a seven-year, $175-million extension for Strasburg the following year.
Over the past three seasons, Arrieta has posted similar numbers to both Scherzer and Strasburg.
2015-17 Stats
| PITCHER | GS | IP | ERA | WHIP | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max Scherzer | 98 | 657.2 | 2.76 | 0.93 | 828 |
| Stephen Strasburg | 75 | 450 1/3 | 3.14 | 1.07 | 542 |
| Jake Arrieta | 94 | 594.2 | 2.71 | 1.04 | 589 |
Because the Cubs made Arrieta a qualifying offer and the Nationals crossed the competitive balance tax mark last year, the new collective bargaining agreement states Washington would have to surrender their second- and fifth-highest draft picks, as well as $1 million in international bonus pool money to sign the pitcher, according to Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post.