Chicago Cubs: Jake Arrieta could be removed from rotation
With the Chicago Cubs at the top of the National League Central division, the narrative of the Cubs and the Major League Baseball trade deadline in July has changed. After entering the season with the intention of selling at the trade deadline, it would appear that the Cubs will be buyers.
After reviewing the Cubs’ roster, there are three needs that stand out. With outfielders Ian Happ and Jason Heyward struggling, it’s possible that the team could look to acquire another platoon-type outfielder that specializes in hitting against left-handed pitching.
The Cubs’ starting pitching is without question the weakness of the roster and the team is in need of a dependable starting pitcher for the stretch run. Rounding out the issues for the Cubs would be the need for a backup catcher but that is not a pressing item for the team.
Chances are that if the Cubs are going to buy at the trade deadline, it will be for a starting pitcher. Outside of Kyle Hendricks and Kyle Davies, who both appear to be returning to form after struggling to begin the season, the Cubs rotation has been plagued with inconsistency.
The Cubs have two starting pitchers in Trevor Williams and Adbert Alzolay that are currently on the injured list. Alzolay likely will not be on the injured list for much longer as he is currently dealing with a blister on his pitching hand whereas Williams’ timeline is not known as he continues to recover from an emergency appendectomy.
It might be time for the Chicago Cubs to make a tough decision with their rotation.
Jake Arrieta, meanwhile, has been bad this season. Arrieta has made 13 starts this season and posted a 5.14 ERA, 5.45 WHIP, and 1.460 WHIP in 63 innings. The regression that Arrieta first experienced after leaving the Cubs’ organization after the 2017 season has continued during his second run with the team.
Arrieta’s struggles this season are part of the reason why the Cubs need to acquire a starting pitcher at the trade deadline. The question that would follow after a potential Cubs’ acquisition of a starting pitcher at the trade deadline would be who would be the odd man out in the Cubs’ rotation. That would unquestionably be Arrieta.
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Arrieta is no longer the anchor in the Cubs’ starting rotation that he was during the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Instead, Arrieta is now a liability for the Cubs each time that he takes the mound as a starting pitcher. After an off-season where the Cubs replaced an ace in Yu Darvish with Arrieta, they now need an ace to replace Arrieta.