If you’ve been following Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta on social media, you may have already seen his fresh new look.
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Yesterday, Arrieta’s wife Brittany Arrieta posted a picture on Twitter with a clean-shaven Jake who has become so well-known for his facial hair that the phrase “Fear the Beard” has been used to describe the pitcher since winning the Cy Young Award in 2015.
Well hello there 👋🏼🙈😍#myoffseasonboyfriend #babyface pic.twitter.com/tqzPJg7cgG
— Brittany Arrieta (@MrsArrieta49) October 22, 2017
According to WGN, however, this has become a sort of off-season ritual for Arrieta, as he has done the same after the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
Cubs fans are a bit apprehensive with anything Arrieta-related as he is now a free agent who may not sign back with the Cubbies.
“Hopefully, it’s not a goodbye; it’s a thank you, obviously,” Arrieta said after a sterling effort during the Cubs’ 3-2 victory over the Dodgers in Game 4 of the NLCS last Wednesday night, in reference to tipping his hat as he left the field.
Considering the star’s price-tag and if the Cubs are able to afford it, Arrieta may find himself pitching for a different team in 2018.
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This past season, Arrieta went 14-10 with an ERA of 3.53. In two post-season starts, he only allowed one run in 10 2/3 innings and threw 13 strikeouts.