The Cubs will welcome back reliever Pedro Strop from the injured list, manager Joe Maddon tells Bruce Levine of 670 The Score (Twitter link). Fellow righty Dillon Maples was optioned down to make room.
Strop’s return from a hamstring injury is an important step for a club that has had its share of relief issues of late. The Chicago pen has blown more saves (seven) in the past month than all but one other team (the Mets, with nine). Adding Strop back to the late-inning mix will not only give Maddon another key arm to work with in high-leverage situations but will help deepen the rest of the unit.
Soon to turn 34, Strop has long been a reliable piece for the Cubs. Since landing in Chicago, he carries a 2.71 ERA with 10.2 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9 over 342 frames of action. He has allowed just 5.7 hits and 0.6 home runs per nine in that span.
It’s tough to say much after a twelve-appearance sample, but Strop was perhaps a tick off to begin the season. His velocity has continued to trend down, albeit at a gentle pace, and he had permitted six earned runs in his 10 2/3 innings. Most of the damage came in two outings to open the year.
The Cubs will be glad to throw Strop back in the mix to see whether he can get back to his usual productivity. Whether or not he’ll retake the closer’s job from Steve Cishek remains to be seen. The club would prefer to have both of those pitchers working in a setup capacity in front of Brandon Morrow, but it’s anyone’s guess whether and when he’ll return.
And let the gas cannery continue!!
You clearly don’t watch Strop, or the Cubs.
Maples is literally a walk or strike out.
We ALL know who the Cubs need BUT C.K is going to cost lits more money & the team won’t spend more! ☺️⚾️
You clearly haven’t seen the reports that Zobrist isn’t getting paid, along with the ones saying that they are determining whether or not to use the money saved to get Kimbrel. But okay…
The cubs have the money to sign Kimbrel. The question is how badly do they want him? They’ll have to outbid three or four teams. We all know how cheap they are, so it’s probably not happening.
The White Sox missed out on Machado because they wouldn’t GUARANTEE him more money than San Diego. The Cubs have paid, oh lets see here, Lester, Heyward, Zobrist, Lackey, Fowler, and many others since 2015. Who exactly is cheap here? Oh that’s right, you don’t know what you’re talking about, ever.
Dude, grow up. You guys act like nine year olds every time someone mentions the cubs. They’re cheap, so are the Sox.
Cheap wouldn’t be the Cubs having the 2nd highest Payroll in the MLB. Cheap would be the way Jerry runs the Sox. You’re one of the biggest trolls on here. Every time there’s even something mentioned about the Cubs, you jump in throwing a fit.
According to sportrac, the Cubs have the 2nd highest payroll.
How is that cheap?
Stupid, yes. (Heyward, Chatwood, Darvish, maybe Morrow.) But not cheap.
Pt57, It’s because he jumps in and tries to bag on the Cubs because of how badly the Sox are ran. Same owner as the Bulls, ran the same way. Won’t ever change until ownership changes. Just the same as Chisoxcity won’t change, until mommy stops changing him.
Agreed. But with one exception. Change maybe Morrow to absolutely Morrow. Thankfully this is Morow’s last season of guaranteed money. Take the 2 million dollar buyout and say good bye, good luck.
The cubs have a large payroll because, as previously mentioned, they blow money on garbage players. Heyward? Darvish? They’re still cheap. How many relievers have they let walk over money? Chapman? Davis? Chavez? They went with cheaper options, and it shows. If they don’t add Kimbrel or trade for a quality closer before the trade deadline, they’re officially done. Troll that.
Every time I hear that a team needs Kimbrel, I’m assuming that each team needs him to win a World Series. Then I just remind myself that closers (and all relief pitchers) are so volitale and his 5.91 playoff ERA last year and the fact that it was Chris Sale closing the clinching game last year makes it seem like there are very few teams that want to pay $15-20 million a year and upwards of $90M for a closer.
Nobody NEEDS Kimbrel.
As a Cubs fan, I rather have Giles if he can be had at a reasonable price via trade.
Giles and Galvis for Ian Happ and Adbert Alzolay who’s currently being blocked. Galvis replaces Descalo. Fair?
Happ and a lesser prospect for both would be fair in my opinion. Not Alzolay. That’s a steep steep price to me.
Plus, Descalso is signed to a 2 year deal, so he’d have to be a throw in as well.
Damn. 2 years for Descalso? Ugh….he’s a release candidate.
I’m surprised the Cubs haven’t brought up Alzolay to bolster the bullpen.
I believe he was hurt, however they expect to call him up soon to do just that, now that he’s healthy.
If Giles is available, the Cubs aren’t going to be the only team bidding. He has been one of the best relievers in baseball this year, and he comes with another year of control. Happ’s value is already in the gutter, and it’s only getting worse – adding a bum prospect with him isn’t going to get it done.
Epstein has quite a dilemma on his hands. Happ’s value is nill. The farm system is useless. If the cubs seek a trade for a quality closer, someone on the big league roster. $200MM+ wasted on a club that can’t get three outs late in games is not a good look.
Will Pedro be “ Hope Strop”, “ Nope Strop” , or
“ Dope Strop”?
Hurt Strop
Strop gets them 1-2-3 . Welcome back