The Chicago Cubs are moving on from starting pitcher Jake Arrieta, placing the former World Series champion and NL Cy Young Award winner on release waivers.
Arrieta, who reunited with Chicago this offseason, ended his tenure in Chicago on a rough note. The 35-year-old started Wednesday against the Milwaukee Brewers, allowing eight runs and 11 hits in four innings.
According to The Athletic Sahadev Sharma, the Cubs have placed one of their iconic pitchers on unconditional release waivers.
- Jake Arrieta stats (2021): 5-11 record, 6.88 ERA, 1.76 WHIP 74/39 K/BB ratio in 86.1 innings
When the Cubs started on a hot streak in April, Arrieta was one of the biggest forces behind the team’s success. Across his first five starts, he recorded a 2.57 ERA, holding opponents to a .210 batting average with a 1.18 WHIP.
But as the Cubs collapsed later in the season, Arrieta fell apart. He’s been one of the worst pitchers in baseball since May, allowing opponents to post a .344 batting average against him with 16 home runs in 14 starts.
- Jake Arrieta stats (May 2- Aug. 11): 2-8 record, 8.35 ERA, 84 hits allowed, 46/27 K/BB ratio, 2.02 WHIP
Arrieta began his MLB career with the Baltimore Orioles but didn’t find great success until landing in Chicago. The Cubs acquired him in July 2013, working with the veteran hurler and helping him become one of the best pitchers in MLB.
He won the NL Cy Young Award in 2015, receiving 17 first-place votes. Across 33 starts that season, Arrieta led MLB in wins (22), shutouts (three) and posted a 1.77 ERA with 236 strikeouts in 229 innings. He also threw the first of two no-hitters, with the second coming the following season.
Arrieta was an integral part of Chicago’s World Series title in 2016. He signed with the Philadelphia Phillies before the 2018 season, but returned to the Cubs this offseason.