Jake Arrieta, Chicago Cubs. (Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports)
Jake Arrieta was unconditionally released by the Chicago Cubs on Thursday afternoon.
After a disastrous second stint with the Chicago Cubs, former ace pitcher Jake Arrieta was unconditionally released by the baseball club on Thursday afternoon.
Arrieta was 5-11 on the year in 20 starts for the 2021 Cubs. His ERA was an atrocious 6.88 with a 1.761 WHIP in 86.1 innings pitched for Chicago. For a two-year run there in 2015-16, Arrieta was one of the best pitchers in the National League. He won the 2015 NL Cy Young and made the 2016 All-Star team months before the Cubs broke their World Series curse. Now, he is out of a job.
Here is how Cubs fans reacted to one of their most polarizing players ever after his release.
Chicago Cubs fans react to Jake Arrieta being released by the organization
Not only is Arrieta not pitching well this year, but his stance on the vaccine has not exactly put him in the good graces with many baseball fans.
Still, he is one of the most important pitchers in the history of the Cubs organization.
While some contending teams’ fans are interested acquiring him on the free-agent market, Cubs fans are encouraging them to stay away.
Overall, Arrieta’s two-stint run with the Cubs will always be seen as controversial. As great as it was the first time around, it just as bad during his second tenure with the team. Most Cubs fans are not sorry to see him go, but deep down, they do appreciate what he did for them during those two magical seasons in 2015 and 2016. Then again, they cannot look past what he did in 2021.
This could be the last time we see Arrieta have any extended run with an MLB team in his career.