Chicago Cubs Release Pitcher Jake Arrieta

The Chicago Cubs released starting pitcher Jake Arrieta on Thursday following a brutal outing against the Milwaukee Brewers where he gave up eight earned runs—seven in the first inning—and eleven hits in just four innings of action.

Arrieta signed with the Cubs during the offseason in the hopes of duplicating his past success with the organization. In 2015, Arrieta won the National League Cy Young Award, finishing with an exceptional 22-6 record and a 1.77 ERA. He played an integral role in helping the Cubs win their first World Series title since 1908.

After his 2017 campaign, Arrieta signed a three-year $75 million free-agent contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. However, his tenure in the City of Brotherly Love proved subpar, as he posted a 4.36 ERA over three seasons.

Arrieta got off to a promising start to the season, putting up a solid 2.57 ERA in his first five starts. However, the former Cy Young winner has since struggled extensively, as he is now 5-11 with a disastrous 6.88 ERA.

After being released, his professional career is up in the air.