The San Diego Padres have signed free agent starting pitcher Jake Arrieta for the remainder of the 2021 season, per multiple sources. Arrieta will make his first Padres start Wednesday at Coors Field. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal first reported the signing early Monday morning.

Arrieta was released by the Chicago Cubs last week after posting a 6.88 earned run average (ERA) in 20 starts with the Cubs, and averaged just over four innings per start. The 2015 Cy Young award winner has gone more than five innings four times this season, but hasn’t had one start with more than five frames since May 14.

The Padres are in desperate need of pitching after Yu Darvish was placed on the injured list after leaving his Thursday start in Arizona. With five starting pitchers (Clevinger, Darvish, Lamet, Morejon, Paddack) who would otherwise be pitching in the major league rotation, it has certainly struggled this season.

With the Arrieta signing, the Padres rotation consists of right-handed pitchers Arrieta, Joe Musgrove, and left-handed pitchers Blake Snell and Ryan Weathers. Weathers will start the series opener Monday while Tuesday’s game is yet to be determined.