Jake Arrieta makes distraction-free first impression in '17 debut

Jake Arrieta makes distraction-free first impression in ’17 debut

By Gordon Wittenmyer

Jake Arrieta Tueday night against the Cardinals

ST. LOUIS — For all the overblown, so-called significance gleaned from the first two games, one potential insight might be worth considering.

When Jake Arrieta retired the first nine batters he faced — and 13 of the first 14 — in his first start of what might be his final season with the Cubs, it at least suggested the uncertainty of where he will be next season won’t affect his focus and performance.

“That’s not a distraction at all, really,” Arrieta said after allowing one unearned run in six innings to beat the Cardinals 2-1 in his season debut Tuesday, drawing comparisons in the clubhouse to his Cy Young season in 2015.

“My contract, that’s an ancillary part of just the game of baseball. It’s part of the business side of it. But my focus is just to be here for the guys in the clubhouse and help us win another championship.”

Arrieta, who won two World Series road games on the way to the title last fall, is eligible for free agency at the end of the season.

He agreed to an arbitration-level record $15.638 million deal with the Cubs for this year and is widely projected as the top free-agent pitcher next offseason.

He’s 55-21 with a 2.50 ERA in 99 starts since the Cubs acquired him and reliever Pedro Strop in a lopsided trade with the Orioles in July 2013.

“In his particular situation right now, it should help relax him a bit,” manager Joe Maddon said. “He’s tough. He understands what’s going on. I thought he reacted really well [Tuesday]. He reacted well in spring training. I thought in spring training the strike throwing really kept getting better and better, and I think you saw it again [Tuesday] in the game.”

Follow me on Twitter @GDubCub.

Email: gwittenmyer@suntimes.com