Los Angeles Angels: A cheaper Jake Arrieta is a thing to consider

With Spring Training less than a week away there are still some notable stars unsigned. For the Los Angeles Angels, this could lead to a discounted ace.

The MLB Hot Stove typically heats up during December alongside the MLB Winter Meetings. This year, however, that hot stove has been ice cold. Although the Los Angeles Angels have been one of the more active teams this offseason, there are still several stars that may start Spring Training without a team.

Jake Arrieta, Eric Hosmer, Yu Darvish and J.D. Martinez are the big four. Darvish, at least, has somewhat of an excuse. The Dodgers seem to be his preferred destination, now, he just has to wait for the team to free up money.

The others though are waiting on a big contract on a contending team. MLB agent Scott Boras said that teams need “more incentive to win.” The MLB Players Association stated that the league is becoming a “race to the bottom,” thus, resulting in this free agency freeze.

Or, it could be that these guys are asking for too much money, but of course, the players themselves will never admit that. Arrieta reportedly wanted over $200 million, pricing out his own Chicago Cubs in the process. As great as Arrieta is, this is not 2015 and it is hard to justify paying someone with a 3.53 ERA, who will be 32, that much money.

Thus, these high-profile free agents and the MLB teams are at gridlock. While I definitely understand the “race to the bottom,” ideology, I doubt that any of these guys would sign with a rebuilding team anyway.

What incentive would the Detroit Tigers, who just freed up contracts, have in signing a pitcher past his prime to a $200 million contract? Plus, I guarantee that Arrieta wants to play on a contender, not someone in between. The problem with that, of course, it that contenders simply don’t have space for the hefty contract demands.

That is where the Los Angeles Angels come in to capitalize on a cheaper Arrieta deal.

The Los Angeles Angels and Jake Arrieta have had no real ties. LA has been busy bringing in Shohei Ohtani, Ian Kinsler and Zack Cozart. The last thing that anyone would expect would be the Angels getting Arrieta.

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Which is why it is so great. Arrieta will undoubtedly get a reduced contract. Instead of the $200 million, because of the holdout, a four-year, $80 million deal seems much more reasonable. Arrieta is not worth $30 million+ a year, $20 million a year is doable.

And while this would put the Angels over the luxury tax, I think it is a risk worth taking. By getting Arrieta you are getting that big name pitcher that can add experience to the Angels rotation. If the young arms progress as they should, the Angels could have a top three rotation in the American League.

The luxury tax is set to increase $9 million for the following season, giving the Angels more comfort in bringing Arrieta in. With the Angels falling under the luxury tax last season, the penalty for going over would not be so bad. The Dodgers were over the tax for three years and just now are making a move to get under.

Next: Predicting Ohtani's rookie year

Is it a risk? Absolutely. Will it happen? Probably not. However, if I were in charge of the Los Angeles Angels, I would at least consider the prospects of Jake Arrieta.

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