CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Jake Arrieta arrived at Philadelphia Phillies' camp on Tuesday morning with a new contract and a message for the National League: The team is ready to bump up its timetable to contend.
Arrieta, one of the top free agents on the market this offseason, waited until two weeks before Opening Day to finalize a guaranteed three-year, $75 million deal that could max out at five years and $135 million. In a news conference at Spectrum Field, he made it clear he thinks the Phillies are further along in their rebuild than public perception suggests.