Phillies Rumors: Jake Arrieta Exercises Contract Option, Avoids Free Agency

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Jake Arrieta reportedly exercised a player option in his three-year, $75 million contract to remain with the club for the 2020 season for a $20 million salary.

Jon Heyman of the MLB Network reported the update Thursday.

Arrieta was limited to 24 starts in 2019 before landing on the 60-day injured list with an elbow injury that required season-ending surgery in August. He's expected back at full strength in time for next year's spring training, per Heyman.

The 33-year-old Missouri native didn't pitch to his usually high standards even when healthy. He posted a 4.64 ERA, his highest mark since 2013, and a 1.47 WHIP with 110 strikeouts in 135.2 innings.

"It hurts every day," Arrieta told reporters on Aug. 11 about the bone spur in his elbow after giving up five runs in three innings against the San Francisco Giants in his final start of the year.

The injury and his lackluster numbers likely made the choice to remain with the Phillies quite straightforward. It will give him an opportunity to bounce back in 2020 without having to rush his recovery in order to land a new contract elsewhere.

Philadelphia holds the decision about his future in its hands moving forward. The team holds club options for both 2021 and 2022 at $20 million apiece.

Arrieta is worth that high price tag at his peak. He was one of the league's most dominant players in 2015 when he finished with a microscopic 1.77 ERA in 33 starts for the Chicago Cubs. While the right-hander hasn't been able to match that performance, his ERA was below 4.00 each of the last three years.

If healthy, he'll probably open the 2020 campaign in the middle of a Phillies rotation led by Aaron Nola.