The Cubs have exercised their 2019 club option on right-hander Pedro Strop, the team announced. He’ll earn $6.25MM for the upcoming 2019 campaign and will be a free agent next offseason, barring a further extension of his contract.
It was an easy call for the Cubs to retain Strop on a relatively modest one-year commitment, as the righty turned in a stellar 2.26 ERA with 8.6 K/9, 3.2 BB/9, 0.6 HR/9 and a 46.1 percent grounder rate through 59 2/3 innings of work. Strop did miss some time late in the season due to a hamstring injury, but he returned to pitch for the Cubs in the National League Wild Card game despite not being 100 percent at the time. President of baseball operations Theo Epstein told reporters after the fact that Strop’s gutty performance exemplified why the right-hander was “such a big part of the heartbeat of this team.”
#HatsToTheLeft
Hope they come to terms on another extension…I don’t want him to leave for another club
He is such an underrated part of that bullpen. I think the fans who hate the way he wears his hat finally realized this past year that it’s not about his attire and how he wears his hat, it’s about his arm.
Those people are the worst!
Well last year was the first time ever he was close to a lock down reliever. He’s been solid before, but nothing ever close to last year. So it’s not like he’s been great for years and years and guaranteed to dominate in the future.
Might want to check his stat line again. He’s been the same dominant pitcher ever since he came to the Cubs 5+ years ago.
I never got the hate over him wearing his hat like that. Fernando Rondey does the same thing and never gets ridiculed over it.
All the old guys commenting in the local newspaper stories while he was here in Minnesota says otherwise. People just can’t get past that whole “back in my day” crap.
Rodney always does
How do you know his cap isn’t straight, but his head is crooked?
While I hope they come to an extension, can a clause to make him wear hat normal be added?
Why are you morons so obsessed over his hat being ever so slightly off-center?
His hat doesn’t bother me, but it’s a little more off center than “slightly”.
Keep bringing back that same staff that sucked last year. And wear your cap like a man!
Ah yes, the guy who provided a 2.26 ERA sucked. And yes, when will this man ever turn into a man. Themed, never stop blessing us with your wisdom!
Best bullpen in the NL in 2018, but yes, they totally “sucked”
If we ignore this troll he may go away. He doesn’t even watch baseball he just hates the Cubs
I’m pretty sure themed is 11 years old. No offense to you 11 year olds out there.
I bet you’re not even man enough to tell him that to his face, Mr Macho Manly Guy
Mr. Manny Machado Guy?
@themed
Oh wise one enlighten us with your baseball wisdom and educate us on how Strop allegedly stunk?
You’re not even good at this anymore. Log off.
I’m still in shock the orioles gave up he and Jake for….a half season of Scott Feldman.
Don’t forget the Orioles got 3rd string catcher Steve Clevenger too. Probably the most one sided trade in baseball this decade.
The O’s were going to non-tender both, anyway.
They weren’t getting value for Strop or Arrieta. The Cubs were willing to give value to make the O’s jump.
Everyone knew Arrieta had talent. The Cubs got a bargain and Scott Feldman wasn’t /value/; Bud Norris trade was better value.
The Cubs gave up nothing for them. Turned out to be top 10 one sided trade of the last 25 years.
In defense of the O’s, Arrieta was absolutely rubbish with them. Pitched like a forgotten dumpster fire.
It’s the Orioles fault Arrieta was bad there. They wouldn’t even allow him to use best pitch much (the slider/cutter) because they feared he’d getbhurt. They’re absolute morons
Yeah, and Weiters behind the plate most of the time. Weiters wasn’t a good catcher for them, and it seemed most of his calls for Jake were fastball., fastball, fastball, curveball.
Wieters isn’t a good catcher in general. He’ll go to an AL team. Maybe the rangers? Mariners. Neither needs a dh he could get some ABs as the DH
Great. Exercise an option for a pinch runner. Great move Theo.
Haha. Good job for making the obscure reference. Player injuries are FUNNY HAHA. Lmaoo. Lol mate.
That’s gotta be one of the easiest decisions for Epstein this entire offseason.