A former Cy Young winner is stepping away from the game. In an appearance on Barstool’s Pardon My Take podcast, Jake Arrieta announced he is set to retire (interview around 56:00 mark). “I haven’t signed the papers, man, but I’m done,” Arrieta said.”It’s time for me to step away from the game. At some point, the uniform goes to somebody else. It’s just my time, really. … Yeah, man, I’m done.”
Arrieta, now 36 years old, retires after a 12-season MLB career. A fifth-round pick of the Orioles out of TCU in 2007, he made it to the majors midway through the 2010 campaign. He spent three-plus seasons in Baltimore, never really clicking despite getting a few opportunities to crack the starting rotation. Arrieta made 69 appearances in black and orange, pitching to a cumulative 5.46 ERA/4.72 FIP. His strikeout and walk numbers improved later in his time with the O’s, but the results never lined up and Baltimore traded him to the Cubs in early July 2013.
That deal — which saw Arrieta and reliever Pedro Strop head to the North Siders for starter Scott Feldman and backup catcher Steve Clevenger — proved one of the most consequential trades in recent MLB history. Arrieta had decent results down the stretch with the Cubs, but his peripherals didn’t suggest he was on the verge of a breakout.
That’s exactly what transpired, though. By 2014, Arrieta had emerged as a top-of-the-rotation starter. He tossed 156 2/3 innings of 2.53 ERA ball, earning a ninth-place finish in NL Cy Young balloting. That was an unexpected age-28 breakout, but rather than showing any signs of regression, Arrieta took his game to another height the next season. In 2015, the right-hander tossed a personal-high 229 innings with an incredible 1.77 ERA. He led MLB with four complete games and three shutouts, allowing a league-low 5.9 hits per nine frames.
Arrieta had a very strong first half that year, posting a 2.66 ERA in 121 2/3 innings. Yet it’s the second half of that 2015 season for which he might best be remembered, as he orchestrated one of the most overpowering runs by any pitcher in MLB history. After that year’s All-Star break, Arrieta threw 107 1/3 frames and allowed just nine earned runs (0.75 ERA). Opposing hitters posted a laughable .148/.204/.205 line in just shy of 400 plate appearances during that stretch, as the Cubs won 97 games and earned a postseason berth.
During that year’s Wild Card game, Arrieta continued his run of absolute dominance, tossing an 11-strikeout shutout in that season’s Wild Card game against the Pirates. He wasn’t as excellent during starts in the NLDS or NLCS, but he had launched himself into the upper echelon of starting pitchers. Arrieta won that season’s Cy Young award, and he’d pick up a third consecutive top ten finish the following season.
In 2016, Arrieta worked to a 3.10 ERA in 197 1/3 frames. He again allowed a league-low 6.3 hits per nine, picking up his first All-Star selection in the process. Alongside Jon Lester and a career-best season from Kyle Hendricks, Arrieta played a key role in the Cubs team that snapped their 108-year title drought. Chicago won both of his starts during the seven-game triumph over the Indians, during which he tossed 11 1/3 innings of three-run ball.
Arrieta remained in Chicago for one more season. He never recaptured his otherworldly 2014-15 form, but he still offered mid-rotation production with a 3.53 ERA in 168 1/3 innings. That offseason, he signed a three-year, $75MM guarantee with the Phillies. Arrieta’s first season in Philadelphia was solid, as he allowed just fewer than four earned runs per nine in 31 starts.
The past three seasons proved a struggle, as Arrieta’s velocity had begun trending downwards from its mid-90s peak by 2017. He posted a 4.64 ERA or higher in each of his final trio of campaigns, including a 7.39 mark in 24 starts between the Cubs and Padres last season. Arrieta returned to the place where he’d had the most success last winter, but the Cubs released him in August. He struggled in four starts with the Friars, and San Diego let him go shortly before the regular season wrapped up.
Obviously, Arrieta’s career didn’t end the way he would’ve liked. Yet there’s no question he reached a height few players in the game’s recent history have hit. From 2014-16, only future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw bested Arrieta’s 2.42 ERA among qualified starters. He played a pivotal role on the most successful teams in the past century of Cubs baseball and leaves the game with a Cy Young and a World Series title. Over his 12-year run, he won 115 games, and struck out upwards of 1400 batters in 1612 1/3 innings.
Arrieta retires with a career 3.98 ERA, although that mark is inflated by the struggles he experienced at each end. For a three-to-four year period, he was among the top few pitchers on the planet. MLBTR congratulates him on his excellent run and wishes him the best in retirement.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Feel like he would have gotten more praise if he just called it a career two years ago. Idk. Solid prime though
Likely Hall of Famer. If King Felix doesn’t get in then Arrieta shouldn’t
“Don’t let the door hit you on the way out” – Miguel Montero
He finally realized he was done. Fans knew it long ago.
He was more than just lucky, he was good for a while.
Saw some Tik Tok about how he beamed a bunch of little kids pitching to his kids team because he can’t lob a ball accurately.
He beamed a bunch of kids ? What does that even mean
Means autocorrect may have boned me pink taco.
Doesn’t it mean hit with pitch?. I mean, sure, traditionally it’d be “beans” but, c’mon. It’s not like “beans” even makes sense anyway. Beams actually flows better. I think you’ve created a new colloquialism.
He transported them all to Pluto
Scotty to the rescue
This is misleading. He was talking about how it’s difficult to NOT throw as hard as possible all the time. He was trying to let up for these kids but found it hard to be accurate while throwing so soft.
Congrats on a fine career, Jake! Going in the Hall as a Padre, for shizzle. =)
This man had the best 2nd half in MLB history. (well no, I don’t know that for sure but…).
Congrats on your career and best of luck in retirement. You might need a hobby – you only have, say, another 50 years to go.
One of the best trades in Cubs history.
Bob Gibson had a better second half in 1968 (and first half).
I’ll take your word for it. I just remember hearing that when Jake was dominant. However Gibson had that season before they lowered the mound.
Orioles still won that trade with the Cubs.
What?
Clearly that was a joke there buddy.
Well, you Cubs fans shouldn’t be allowed to win a trade for another 50 years after how you stole Sandberg from the Phillies. Man he tormented the Mets for years.
Near historic Cy Young year. Check. Win a World Series. Check. Sign big ole free agent contract. Check. That’s the professional athlete triumvirate right there.
Most people would certainly be satisfied with that pedigree as a retired ballplayer. Heck, most people would love to be a retired ballplayer…
Too bad he rejected a much better offer from the Cubs than he ended up getting from the Phillies.
According to Arrieta he didn’t have a chance to reject it. The Cubs pulled it the next day bc they signed Darvish.
Arrieta has said that it was the same deal as Darvish and he would have took it, if he knew it was going be pulled so quick.
Well, the fact that he didn’t accept right away, it was his way of rejecting it. Works out that way sometimes. They made the offer, then pulled it when he didn’t say yes in a quick amount of time.
Yeah, I can agree with that too an extent
but it was less than 24 hrs while he discussed it with his wife.
But I think it was more of the fact that Cubs didn’t expect Darvish to sign with them. They probably had an “uh-oh” moment bc they had two $126 million contracts on the table and had to pull one quickly.
If you remember, that year Darvish was expected to sign $175-$200 million contract but couldn’t get it. Other players had issues too, but I can’t think of them currently. This one stuck out bc it involved the Cubs and Arrieta.
Crazy circumstances for sure!
** original got deleted bc I think I cussed. Instead of “uh-oh”, hope it doesn’t post twice.** my bad.
Overrated career-wise and he stole the act You g from Grienke.
Cy Young
well he stole the act You g too
I agree on the Cy Young. At no point after any appearance did Zack Greinke have an ERA that started with a 2 in 2015. Go look at his game logs, it’s ridiculous.
White Sox are down a couple starters… Just saying, Jake.
No thanks. Not a chance either. Maybe your Yanks though? Lol!
No way he’s making the HoF. He should have hung them up sooner!
One of those players we all know was overpaid and overrated, despite a couple of stellar peak years leading to that overpay contract. He deserved his Cy Young, He earned his money overall, but it was also an overall mediocre career.
Depending on if you look at it as he was underpaid for his 3 peak seasons so he was overpaid for his decline or he was paid later for what he did earlier, etc. he both earned his salaries and he didn’t really pan out at the same time.
He’s the typical
reason most players get overpaid.. a few gods/great years. The rest are average or subpar
I have no idea what standards you go by but he won a CYA (which a majority of ML’ers don’t), played 10+ years, and made over 9-figures in salary. That’s a pretty successful career in my book.
I don’t know what those guys are talking about. A Cy Young and a championship are what every pitcher dreams of winning.
I don’t think anyone is saying he didn’t have a successful career. It’s just a shame that he started to decline as soon as he got paid. But he has a great career.
Jon Bon Jovi needs to be next…
“OH We’re halfway there.. “
He was dominant for a brief period which is insanely impressive. His post Cubs career didn’t work out at all, but the guy accomplished more than most.
He was a bum by the time he put on a Phillies uniform. He stole $75 million. Now that’s what I call spending “stupid money!”
The move was simply to develop the Phillies younger pitchers while also enticing other FA to sign in Philly. Unfortunately the young pitching talent didn’t really develop. Vinny Velo and Pivetta are elsewhere. Phillies overpaid, but they knew they were overpaying. I don’t fault Arrieta for that.
You make a good point and unfortunately he didn’t seem like he had the personality, patience or tolerance for a rebuilding team. Not too many guys come to teams like Jim Thome did years ago for the reason, you’d mentioned. But I’m sure Jake felt good cashing the check after every loss so in his eyes he probably felt like he was helping.
Vinny now making moves in Chicago. Phillys loss
Phillies gave Vinny every chance in the world. Sometimes moving away is key.
Did so many PEDs that other PED users were calling him out. Also, that Cy Young should’ve gone to Grienke, and I couldn’t be more anti-Dodger
I remember those accusations. I don’t think he used though. When that was going on I remember him crediting the pitching staff to letting him pitch like he did in college. He said a lot of pitching coaches kept trying to “fix” him and screwing him up.
I can’t remember the pitching coaches name. It he left and it kinda started his downward trend. Then he went to Philly and sucked, probably be they tried to fix him.
He also did a lot of pilates and crazy stretches to get the torque he wanted.
If anything his spin rate was pretty crazy on his slider so maybe it was sticky stuff. I dunno. Still think he just had some special timing for a few years.
Just ran out of juice, I guess.
the term, ‘backup catcher’ should be eliminated
What’s pretty crazy is he made 72% of his career earnings after he left the Cubs.
Would have been a lot more if he didn’t have Boras as an agent. Cubs offered 127 million. Boras wanted 175 for 6-7 years. Had to settle for 75 from the Phillies. Cubs pivoted to Darvish and paid him the 127.
Cubbies would not have a World Series without Jake. Thank you sir! I have the ninth innings of both his no-hitters recorded on my phone. Enjoy your retirement!
Arrieta HOF? Insane and worthless discussion. El Tiante, yes.
It’s absulutely laughable how some people on this topic are suggesting that at some point he goes into the HOF.
I mean he may, as a visitor. That’s up to him.
Absolutely laughable? Mildly amusing would’ve sufficed.
He was absolutely filthy during his prime. Fun to watch. One of the best stretches of dominance. Definitely had his moment in the sun. Congratulations on a very good career.
how much of that ‘filth’ was, spydertack?
Who knows. It’s certainly possible. Maybe even likely. Lord knows he wasn’t the only one using it if that’s the case. Still had elite stuff. Better than most his peers during that stretch. Doesn’t diminish his accomplishments during his prime stretch in my opinion.
Struggled appreciating Jake’s efforts. The view from afar was that Jake was just too fond of Jake. Clouded my view of his dominance.
Good luck to him though. Enjoy the retirement Pilates.
Glad to see this headcase leave.
Wasn’t Stretch Armstrong supposed to lengthen his career with all the Yoga?
Lol yeah and pilates. He showed one of his workouts and it was crazy with the pilates machine. I almost got into it bc of him but that stuff is expensive.
A Cy Young award, two no-hitters, and a World Series ring with the Cubs. Not a bad career even if the last few seasons weren’t very good
… at the 2018 All-Star break.
Don’t forget he had 2 no hitters during that peak run too
Thanks for the work with the cubs, it was a fun ride
Better pitching thru chemistry!
As a player what more can you ask for ? Play a game for a living earning him over 101 million , Gets a Cy young , WS Ring and ends his career with a winning record and he’s still young and can enjoy the 2nd half of his life .. Congratulations on a great career and Thank you for helping the cubs win the World Series
2015 wasn’t that the year we went back to the future, can’t believe it’s been that long, or that Arrieta is calling it a career already isn’t he still 28?
He still owes Zack Greinke that 2015 Cy Young.
Grienke also finished twice to Clayton Kershaw and he isn’t expected to hand over his awards
Agreed. Arrieta won it simply because of his monster 2nd half. Voters apparently forgot Zack Greinke was dominant all season long.
Never had an ERA that was higher than 1.xx at the end of any day of the season. Greinke was too consistent, I guess.
Arietta is proof that free agency really doesn’t work. Big payoff for crap pitching.
Will always take the time to see his highlight videos as the movement on his pitches were out of this world!
It always takes away from their careers (in my opinion) when these players announce their retirement after they are unable to sign a reasonable deal with any team. Like a weird attempt to save face, as if it was their decision to leave the game
Interesting career. I wonder what historical precedents there are for it. BA’s Similarity Score (which isn’t a match for this) includes Lincecum and Charley Morton. I don’t see Morton, although he is a late bloomer. Lincecum has more of the “feel” of high peak.
I’ll never forget the argument I got into with some bozos in discord one night after Arietta’s monster season. They were trying to make the argument that he was a better pitcher than Clayton Kershaw. Now here we are some years later and Arietta is retired and Kershaw is coming off of 7 perfect innings.
So, your argument was ‘Kershaw will pitch 7 perfect innings in a start in the 2022 season, so he’s better [now] than Arrietta..’?
Joe Karen Kelly should retire as well, for being a disgrace to the game of baseball.
How so? What makes him a “disgrace to the game of baseball?”
Easily in my top 5 right handed pitchers of all time!
Not trying to be a wise guy, but are you a teenager whose list is limited to only those you have seen pitch? The list of superior RHPs in the last 20-30yrs alone would be long before getting to Arrieta, let alone the ones that are light years better(Scherzer, Degrom, Verlander, Greinke, Bieber, Halladay, Hudson, Maddux, Smoltz, Pedro, Clemens, Schilling, Dave Stewart, Mussina, King Felix, etc)
My God man. Off the top of my head I can name 30 better starters. The best I’ve seen who didn’t cheat was Greg Maddux. If we are counting PED users, then I’d instead say Roger Clemens.
Then I suppose it was just a coincidence that shortly after those rumors started he suddenly was an average pitcher. And the following season he was below average. Then he was basically done. Okay…
To be fair they never said Arrieta was a top 5 all-time RHP. They only said it was their top 5 all-time RHP. When I first saw the post, I thought the same thing as you initially. People like whomever they like though. Maybe Jose Mesa is in someone’s top 5? It’s their right.
A funny thing…as soon as the steroid rumors started about Jake he almost immediately started going downhill and was never close to being the same pitcher. I’m not saying for sure that he cheated but c’mon man, he came out of nowhere to post one of the best seasons ever and then rumors started and he was average followed by below average. And it’s not as if he was old then.