Report: Phillies talking deal with RHP Arrieta

Perhaps the Philadelphia Phillies can pull an ace out of their sleeve days into spring training.

According to MLB Network, the Phillies are engaged in preliminary contract talks with ace right-hander Jake Arrieta, the 2015 National League Cy Young Award winner with the Chicago Cubs.

Arrieta, 31, is a surprise leftover on the market in the final days of February.

However, the Scott Boras client is reportedly generating significant interest from multiple National League teams even after declining a six-year deal from the Cubs that opened the door for Yu Darvish to join Chicago's staff.

The Milwaukee Brewers, Washington Nationals, St. Louis Cardinals, Minnesota Twins and Phillies have now been linked to the right-hander, who was traded to the Cubs from the Baltimore Orioles 2013 -- by Phillies president Andy MacPhail.

Arrieta was 22-6 with a 1.77 ERA in 2015 and 68-31 with a 2.73 ERA in 128 starts with the Cubs.

Little action was expected from the rebuilding Phillies in free agency, but MacPhail made the first big splash of the winter when he signed first baseman Carlos Santana to a three-year, $60 million contract.

--Field Level Media