Chicago Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta suffers setback
Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports
Those poor Chicago Cubs can’t catch a break these days. There’s the issues surrounding signage at Wrigley. There’s the issue of being outbid for Masahiro Tanaka by the New York Yankees. We could go on, but what’s the point, right?
Today, news of Jake Arrieta, who was acquired by the Cubs in the Scott Feldman deal, experienced shoulder “tightness” over the winter. According to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer says Arrieta will “be a little late into camp as far as throwing bullpens and getting into games”.
Hoyer added that no timetable has been set, but Arrieta is throwing as the club “restarted his throwing program”.
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Wittenmyer adds that the Cubs plan to utilize and stretch Carlos Villanueva, who filled in for an ailing Matt Garza during last season, as a temporary replacement. Let’s not forget there are potentially other options in the recently signed James McDonald and Chris Rusin.
After coming over to the Cubs, Arrieta started nine games. His record was 4-2 with a 3.66 ERA and 1.123 WHIP in 51.2 innings of work. Upon his return, if Arrieta can provide the Cubs what he did in those nine starts, the rotation might be solid, maybe more solid that folks will likely extend them credit.