The Chicago Cubs still have some innings to fill assuming Jake Arrieta isn't re-signed and they remain in contact with free agents Alex Cobb and Yu Darvish.

Arrieta is receiving interest from the St. Louis Cardinals.

Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer met with Darvish on Dec. 18 and the Cubs were long considered the favorite to sign Cobb because of his familiarity with new pitching coach Jim Hickey and Joe Maddon from their shared days with the Tampa Bay Rays.