3 Cubs disappointments who need to be DFA’d immediately

Jake Arrieta’s second go-around with the Cubs has been a total disaster

It is truly amazing what a difference five years make. Right-hander Jake Arrieta was one of the best pitchers in baseball on a World Series championship team. During his initial 4.5-year run with the Cubs, Arrieta won the 2015 NL Cy Young, made the 2016 NL All-Star team and earned a Silver Slugger. After a three-year run with the Phillies, Arrieta returned to Chicago a different pitcher.

In 17 starts this season, Arrieta is 5-9 with a disastrous 6.30 ERA and a hard-to-stomach 1.641 WHIP. These are career-worst marks for the 12-year pro out of TCU. Arrieta’s ERA has gotten progressively worse each year since his Cy Young campaign. That year, he had a 22-6 record for the Cubs with a 1.77 ERA and an 0.865 WHIP. He has regressed well past the mean this season.

Since Arrieta only signed a one-year deal with the Cubs for $6 million, the cash-strapped front office just might have to cut bait with its bad investment. There is next to no chance that Chicago picks up his team option for 2022. At 35-years-old, we have to wonder how much longer he will be pitching in the big leagues at this point. His struggles have epitomized the Cubs’ frustrations.

Ultimately, the Cubs are going to tear this roster down to the studs. Whether that is later this month or during the winter remains to be seen. It would serve them to trade away its marquee assets to replenish the farm system. If the Cubs have to designate veteran players like Arrieta, Heyward or Sogard to free up a roster spot, they may have to swallow the bitter pill and just do it.

What other players are potential DFA candidates on this massively underperforming Cubs roster?