Ex-teammates salute Arrieta after Phillies deal: 'Part of the Cubs' family'
Jake Arrieta may be leaving Chicago, but his legacy on the North Side will remain for years to come.
After word came down Sunday that Arrieta had reportedly agreed to a three-year, $75-million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, his friends on the Chicago Cubs expressed their happiness for him, and looked back on their now-former teammate's five-year Cubs tenure with nothing but fondness.
"Primarily, he came here to be a Cub, and he did that, and he ascended to a Cy Young (in 2015) and three years of playoffs - wow," manager Joe Maddon said, according to Carrie Muskat of MLB.com. "I want nothing but good things to happen to Jake. I want what's best for him."
The Baltimore Orioles traded Arrieta to the Cubs on July 2, 2013 following four decidedly mediocre seasons in the Charm City. That trade is now seen as one of the most lopsided in recent history.
As a Cub, Arrieta turned into a star, throwing a pair of no-hitters, winning the 2015 Cy Young Award, and coming up huge in October. His two most memorable playoff outings were likely his 11-strikeout complete-game effort in the 2015 NL wild-card game and a nine-strikeout effort in Game 6 of the 2016 World Series that saved the Cubs' season. Without him, the Cubs likely wouldn't have ended their 108-year World Series championship drought in 2016.
"He wanted the ball every game and he always gave us his best," Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant told Patrick Mooney of The Athletic. "Some of the biggest games in Cubs' history are pitched by him, so I can't say enough about him. I'm happy for him. Glad he's not in our division."
The Cubs and Arrieta officially parted ways in February after the Cubs signed Yu Darvish, although the team did reportedly make him a final courtesy offer of similar value before officially inking his replacement. Arrieta ended up waiting several weeks longer before agreeing to his contract in Philadelphia.
Arrieta will make his return to Wrigley Field in a Phillies uniform on June 5. No one is anticipating him to receive a rude welcome.
"When we play them, I would expect nothing but loud standing ovations, (tribute) videos, because he deserves all of it," first baseman Anthony Rizzo said, according to Mooney. "He's part of the Cubs' family forever."