Tyler Chatwood signs 3-year deal with Cubs as starting pitcher

If Jake Arrieta or John Lackey do not return in 2018, the Cubs are covering their bases.

Of the free agent period, the Cubs’ first major signing is a starting pitcher – according to a WGN9 report.

RELATED: Cubs ticket prices rise again in 2018 — wait, what?!

Through the 2020 season, Tyler Chatwood will be signed with the Cubs in a three-year-deal which was announced on Thursday according to the news outlet.

Chatwood spent the past five years with the Colorado Rockies. He is a six-year MLB veteran and in 2017 he was 8-15 with a 4.69 ERA and 120 strikeouts, according to WGN9.

RELATED: The “Japanese Babe Ruth” AKA Shohei Ohtani is still considering the Cubs and we need him BADLY

Back in 2016, Chatwood posted a 12-9 mark with a 3.87 ERA. For his career, which included his first season with the Angels, Chatwood is 40-46 with a 4.31 ERA.

Chatwood exited a game a year and a half ago game with an apparent injury with two outs in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Watch it happen below: