The Phillies optioned Arrieta to High-A Clearwater on Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

With Arrieta still aiming to build up to a starter's workload after not signing with the Phillies until March 12, he'll head to the minors for one more tune-up start before returning to the big club and making his Philadelphia debut April 8. Due to off days Sunday and April 6, the Phillies will be able to get by with four starters until Arrieta is ready to go.

Arrieta is scheduled to start Tuesday's Grapefruit League finale against the Pirates, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander is still building up his arm strength after remaining unsigned until March 12, when he inked a three-year, $75 million pact with the Phillies. After Tuesday's start, Arrieta will join the Phillies in Atlanta on Thursday for their season-opening series with the Braves. He'll likely then throw a 60-to-7-pitch simulated game early next week before making his regular-season Phillies debut April 8 against the Marlins.

Arrieta will make his debut April 8 at home against the Marlins, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Manager Gabe Kapler formally announced the date for Arrieta's first official start in a Phillies uniform. Arrieta made his first appearance in the Grapefruit League on Thursday, 11 days after signing with Philadelphia, and gave up two runs over two innings (17 pitches). He will likely face minor leaguers a few times in the next couple weeks to prepare for the start of the regular season.

Arrieta will make his Grapefruit League debut Thursday against the Tigers, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

After a series of workouts, Arrieta is ready to make his much-awaited spring debut. After Thursday's game, more information should become available regarding when Arrieta will head to the mound once the upcoming season gets underway. Fortunately, Arrieta was throwing regularly over the summer during the time he was unsigned and is confident that he'll be ready to pitch during the first week of the season.

Arrieta said Tuesday that he expects to be ready to pitch for the Phillies at some point during the first week of the season, Jared Diamond of The Wall Street Journal reports.

EDGE Analysis

After remaining in the free-agent pool until agreeing to a three-year deal with Philadelphia on Sunday, Arrieta is behind the rest of his fellow pitchers and doesn't look like he'll catch up in time to take the hill Opening Day, with those duties instead set to fall to Aaron Nola. However, it sounds like it won't take Arrieta much time beyond the opener before he's cleared to start, as the right-hander had kept him arm conditioned while he was unsigned by throwing 50-to-60-pitch bullpen sessions. Arrieta is expected to make his Grapefruit League debut in the coming days, after which there should be more clarity regarding his pitching schedule heading into the season.

Arrieta may not be ready to pitch at the beginning of the 2018 campaign, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Because of how late Arrieta signed with the Phillies, the team isn't sure that he'll have enough time to prepare and be available once the season gets underway. Fortunately, it's unlikely that he'd be forced to miss many of Philadelphia's initial outings. More information regarding how the Phillies will proceed with their newly-signed ace should become available when the team formally announces the signing at a press conference Tuesday morning.

Arrieta agreed to a three-year contract with the Phillies on Sunday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

EDGE Analysis

It was recently reported that Arrieta was close to signing with Philadelphia. That will be the case, as he's agreed to a three-year contract with the Phillies that's pending a physical, per Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia. Arrieta figures to serve as one of the Phillies' top starters next season along with Aaron Nola. Although he threw for a 3.53 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 2017, Arrieta averaged a 2.67 ERA and 1.03 WHIP over his last four seasons with the Cubs.

Arrieta is moving close to signing with the Phillies, Jon Heyman of FanRagSports.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Details about the length and value of the contract are unknown, but Arrieta's long-awaited signing could be close. Should the deal come to fruition, Arrieta would give Philadelphia's young rotation a significant boost. By Arrieta's standards, 2017's 3.53 ERA and 1.22 WHIP were a bit subpar as they were his highest marks since 2013. Still, Arrieta figures to be a solid starter that could be available at a discount in some drafts.

The Padres have been talking internally about Arrieta, John Heyman of FanRag Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

This sounds like merely due diligence -- the Padres expect to ultimately go with their young pitchers, but they are checking in on several free agents to see if there might be a fit. The Phillies, Brewers, Orioles and Nationals have also been linked to Arrieta. A Scott Boras client, Arrieta is apparently not anxious to sign and is prepared to "wait things out," per Heyman.

Arrieta officially declined his qualifying offer from the Cubs on Thursday, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

As expected, Arrieta will head to free agency in search of a multi-year deal. He was never expected to accept the Cubs' one-year, $17.4 million qualifying offer, but the Cubs have now ensure themselves a draft pick should he sign elsewhere. The 31-year-old will be one of the most sought after starting pitchers in the market; he's compiled a combined 2.67 ERA and 1.03 WHIP over the past four seasons with Chicago.