Right-hander Jake Arrieta’s sescond stint with the Cubs is over.
Chicago has placed Arrieta on unconditional release waivers, the club announced Thursday. The move came a day after Arrieta was hammered in allowing eight runs, all earned, in four innings in a 10-0 loss to the Brewers.
It continued an abysmal stretch for Arrieta, who didn’t log more than four innings in any of his last five starts.
Arrieta, 35, was 5-11 with a 6.88 ERA and 1.76 WHIP in 20 starts this season. He had an 8.35 ERA in 14 starts since May 1.
Arrieta rejoined the Cubs on a one-year deal in the offseason after pitching for the Phillies for the past three years. Arrieta had a spectacular run with the Cubs from 2013-’17, winning the National League Cy Young award in 2015 and helping lead the team to a World Series title in 2016.
In other moves Thursday, the Cubs placed catcher Willson Contreras on the 10-day injured list with a right knee sprain, designated reliever Kyle Ryan for assignment, activated catcher Austin Romine from the 60-day injured list and selected the contract of right-hander Ryan Meisinger.
Ryan had a 6.75 ERA in 13 appearances for the Cubs this season. Romine has appeared in just six games for the Cubs in 2021 as he battled a serious left wrist injury.
Meisinger has made 20 MLB appearances, split across the 2018 and 2020 seasons. He has a 4.25 ERA in 24 appearances at Triple-A Iowa this season.