MLB Rumors: Ex-Cubs P Jake Arrieta Considered By Padres After Yu Darvish Injury | Launderer report

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With Yu Darvish on the injured list with lower back tightness, the San Diego Padres would be “in the mix” for veteran free agent Jake Arrieta, according to Kevin acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune and Jon Heyman of the MLB network.

Acee added that the Padres needed “at least one replacement starter” with Chris Paddack also on the IL due to an oblique injury.

Arrieta, 35, was released by the Chicago Cubs last week. He’s had a tough season, going 5-11 with a 6.88 ERA, 1.76 WHIP and 74 strikeouts in 86.1 innings. His second stint in Chicago ended abruptly, as he allowed 11 hits and eight runs in just four innings against the Milwaukee Brewers on Aug. 11 in a 10-0 loss.

“He was struggling,” president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer told reporters. “Don’t go deep into the starts. We’ve been patient and tried to get through it and I hope it [would] come out the other side and throw better. We weren’t there. “

“At the start of the season, his business was a bit tidier,” he added. “Over time, things got a little bit better, whether it was injury issues, age or whatever. He did everything he could to be successful.”

Arrieta spent his first three plus seasons in majors with the Baltimore Orioles before a successful run with the Cubs (2013-17) that included a World Series title in 2016 and a Cy Young award in 2015.

But he wasn’t great after leaving Chicago, going 22-23 in three seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies while posting a 4.36 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. He returned to Chicago for a one-year, $ 6 million contract, but couldn’t regain the magic of his last run with the Cubs.

It’s unclear how much Arrieta has left in the tank at this point, if anything at all, or if he really would be the best option for a Padres (66-53) team battling for a playoff berth. San Diego currently holds the second wildcard spot in the National League, but has just two games ahead of the Cincinnati Reds.

It’s Wild Card or bust for the Padres, who trail the San Francisco Giants by 10 games in the NL West. So it makes sense to add another starting pitcher, but Arrieta’s recent form suggests there might be better options, even in the short term.