The Phillies have placed right-hander Jake Arrieta on the 10-day injured list, and Arrieta himself told reporters today that his season is likely over (Twitter link via Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune). “I’ll probably miss the remainder of the season,” said Arrieta, who is slated to undergo an MRI on Thursday.
The elbow troubles that are sidelining Arrieta aren’t a new revelation. Early in July, it was announced by the Phils that Arrieta was pitching through bone spurs in his elbow that would require eventual surgery. Arrieta has continued to pitch through the discomfort, though it seems as though he’s now reached a tipping point. Right-hander Zach Eflin, who was recently dropped to the bullpen, will return to the rotation to start in place of Arrieta on Saturday, tweets Scott Lauber of Philly.com.
It’s been a rather middling season for Arrieta, 33, as he’s pitched to a 4.64 ERA with 7.3 K/9, 3.4 BB/9 and 1.4 HR/9 through 24 starts — a total of 135 1/3 innings. Arrieta carried a 3.96 ERA through Memorial Day, but the summer hasn’t been kind to him as he’s pitched through those injuries; over his past 65 2/3 frames, he’s stumbled to a 5.76 ERA with a 51-to-25 K/BB ratio, four hit batters and a dozen home runs allowed.
Arrieta is in the second season of a three-year, $75MM contract that contains an opt-out clause after the 2019 season. Given the current injury and his summer struggles, that opt-out seems decidedly unlikely to be exercised, meaning he’ll remain under contract in Philadelphia through the 2020 season, when he’s slated to earn $20MM. The Phillies also hold a two-year, $40MM club option on Arrieta that they’ll surely forgo in light of his current health and recent struggles.
With Arrieta headed to the shelf for what looks to be the duration of the year, the Phillies will lean on Aaron Nola, Eflin, Vince Velasquez and a pair of recent newcomers — Drew Smyly and Jason Vargas — to round out the rotation for now. Both Smyly and Vargas have given the Phillies a pair of strong outings, though Smyly’s two most recent turns haven’t been as sharp. The Phillies have fallen to nine games out of the division lead in the NL East but are still just two games out of an NL Wild Card spot.
He made the Giants look like a good offensive team, it’s probably for the better that he sits the rest of the season out.
At least he wasn’t the one to give up a two-run single to Will Smith.
This is a huge blow to the Phillies. They needed him to have a glimmer of hope for a postseason run.
i wouldn’t say so. they are already not far from a berth and the hitting coach change should help. with the way he pitched, i think they can call someone up that shouldn’t be terribly worse. (perhaps Eflin’s pen stint has helped him work some issues out and quited down his arm)
A new hitting coach won’t matter much with six weeks left in the season. The fanbase always get caught up in premature hype when they acquire big name players. The reality is the Phillies were never a serious contender to begin with (not enough pitching, hitting, and bad defense).
Sadly, this is true. A lot of us knew it before the season started. They are an 83 win team. That ;s where most of the analysts had them pegged. 83 wins and missing the 2nd wild card by a game or two.
Funny that’s where they sit right now.
Honestly, this Phillies team reminds me of the 2006 team. Taking shape of a contender, but not quite there yet.
$25M a year wow, an expensive bone spur I’d say
This is the right move. It is in Jake and the Phillies best interests to get him healed up. He’s much better off being 100% and ready to go for 2020.
agreed
Save Jake for the playoffs…
🙂
LOLLL
Yeah make sure he’s all comfy to watch from his couch
How about, go get Gerrit Cole in the offseason, and save Jake for the playoffs NEXT YEAR?
Cubs getting cole.
The competition for a dominant starter like Cole will be fierce. The Cubs should have the money, but I doubt they’re willing spend around $200MM to get him.
Cubs signing everyone. Plus giving 10 year-$350mm contract to El Maggot
I don’t think so. Cubs have too much money tied up on old starters
What’s troubling is the amount of time he’ll miss next year as well. Phillies overpaid for Arrieta obviously, but I liked the signing. The pitching staff needed a veteran ace. Unfortunately, it never worked out. Looks awful in retrospect.
I wonder if they had waited just a bit longer how much his price would have come down. yeah, they risked losing him to another team, but there were red flags about him going into the off season
they waited long enough. he probably woulf not have been as bad as he was during the season if he actually had a full ST.
Don’t see where it says Jake will miss any of next season. Tanaka had bone spur surgery in the 2015 offseason and was ready for spring training.
Bone spur surgery usually requires fairly minimal time out, he should be ready to go for spring training.
The Phillies did overpay, but at least it wasn’t a long term commitment. Given his knee last season and elbow this season, had Jake been injury free the numbers might be different.
The contract looks bad, but it’s not like it’s Barry Zito SF Giants bad.
Yeah. These are all good points. The 3 years was what I liked most about the contract.
Same here. If something bad happened, it’s not like the Phillies would be locked in like the Howard contract.
If Jake’s healthy, he’s certainly a solid #3 on most clubs. Problem is that he hasn’t been since he got to Philly. I’m just hoping he’ll make good on the contract next year. Darvish hasn’t exactly panned out for the Cubbies either, but I guess that story isn’t completely written yet either.
Nah man, Jake’s a 4/5 slot starter on a good staff.
Unlike albatross they have in Harper
He shouldn’t miss anytime next year. He should be ready for ST.
start Suarez!
Should’ve had surgery when he was told he needed surgery. So annoying. Could’ve been pitching by now. He didn’t need to suck up the pain. This was early in the season, not in the playoffs.
More to the point, he wasn’t even pitching well! It’s not like he was Curt Schilling and the sock.
Sorry to hear about Jake. Hope he gets well and can contribute for the Phils in 2020. The guy was unbelievably good with the Cubs. Great competitor. Free agents can always be a risky proposition. Especially pitchers. Take it from a Cub fan. The Cubs signed Darvish, Morrow and last season Descalso who have all been dismal for one reason or another.
Also a Cubs fan – I was glad to see Jake go and the Cubs not overpay him. He was clearly on a downward trajectory and regressing to the norm after 2.5 lights-out historic seasons. We knew that couldn’t continue. His velocity was down and his inability to get out of the 4th or 5th inning was very troubling toward the end in Chicago. Yu is finally pitching to his promise, so maybe Theo’s plan will finally work out. If Quintana continues his current streak, it’ll be even better. I hope Jake heals up and gives the Phils a good 2020; he always seemed like a decent guy.
the jury is well from out in whether or not the Darvish contract was better.
Cubs fan as well . I wanted Jake for 3 over Darvish for 6. Won 2 road games for us in World Series and broke 108 year drought . Would like to know if it was Jake and boras or Jed and Theo to blame
Phillies season likely over.
Arrieta was almost unhittable for a couple of years.He was a very good competitor,and his insistence to pitch with pain for the Phillies proves it.
I always thought that the contract was an overpay,though.It was indeed funny money.
Older players are apt to get hurt.
Hopefully for the Phillies he can be counted on to come back next year and prove to be a good #3.
The Phillies were always doomed this year with this pitching staff.
Remember hearing Phillies rumors about mike Minor. His 2 starts since the deadline are 2-0 15IP 0R 2BB 18K both on the road against Cleveland and Milwaukee. I know it’s just 2 starts but if a contender is having SP troubles I bet it stings a little to see him rip off 2 gems on the road against quality teams.