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.
Today’s #Cubs roster moves:
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 12, 2021
-Placed Willson Contreras on 10-day IL (right knee sprain)
-Placed RHP Jake Arrieta on unconditional release waivers
-Selected RHP Ryan Meisinger from @IowaCubs
-Reinstated catcher Austin Romine from 60-day IL
-Designated LHP Kyle Ryan for assignment pic.twitter.com/Oa5OL0uTZ9
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.
Jake Arrieta had two very good seasons, and they are so far out of whack with the rest of his career it really makes you think what was going on then lol. idk. probably reading too much into it. but geez.
— Spencer (@sbp_21) August 12, 2021
Cubs release Jake Arrieta pic.twitter.com/zxriIv1qP2
— Georgia O’Queeffe (@walshrarebit) August 12, 2021
Damn the Brewers really ended Jake Arrieta’s career
— Ohtani, YOU are a Milwaukee Brewer 🍺 (@GOATRodgersSZN) August 12, 2021
Cubs president Jed Hoyer called Jake Arrieta "one of the more influential people in the history of this franchise."
— Bally Sports (@BallySports) August 12, 2021
Then he released him today.
Still, he is one of the most important pitchers in the history of the Cubs organization.
Kyle Hendricks going full Jake Arrieta this inning
— Jeff (@jamfan40) August 12, 2021
Between the retirement of Chris Davis and the release of Jake Arrieta, the 2011-3 Orioles fan club is having a rough time today.
— Baseball Spotlight (@BaseballSpotlit) August 12, 2021
Pretty messy way for Jake Arrieta to exit Chicago. He’ll always be a 2016 hero for Cubs fans, but his lame vaccine stance, and now his bullying of a reporter for wearing a mask reveal a pretty unlikable dude. Oh, and his arm now stinks. So yeah, time for him to fly.
— Dale Brewer (@ExEditorBrewer) August 12, 2021
While some contending teams’ fans are interested acquiring him on the free-agent market, Cubs fans are encouraging them to stay away.
Jake Arrieta proving once again that I don't want to know the opinions of most of the players I root for. #Cubs
— Geary Yonker (@gearyonk) August 12, 2021
Nah. Jake Arrieta ended Jake Arrietas career lol https://t.co/AiZhHAm1Pc
— Big Rick (@EricPfeif) August 12, 2021
I see there are some fans from contenders wondering about Jake Arrieta. My hunch is they haven’t seen much of him. He’s totally cooked. You don’t want it.
— Matt Snyder (@MattSnyderCBS) August 12, 2021
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.