Free-agent reliever Pedro Strop is returning to the Cubs, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports. The right-hander will go to their alternate training site.
This will be the second stint on the North Side for the 35-year-old Strop, who was a valuable part of Chicago’s bullpen from 2013-19. He accumulated 373 innings of 2.90 ERA/3.19 FIP pitching with 10.25 K/9, 3.55 BB/9 and a 53.2 percent groundball rate during that span, though Strop’s effectiveness waned last year during his final season of team control. He was unable to secure a multiyear contract in free agency as a result, instead signing a one-year, $1.825MM with NL Central rival Cincinnati.
The Strop-Reds union didn’t go well for either party, as he battled groin issues and only threw 2 1/3 innings with the club before it designated him for assignment Aug. 26. While Strop allowed just one earned run (three total) as a Red, he issued a whopping six walks and saw his average fastball, formerly in the 95-96 range, drop below 92. He’ll now try to work his way back to the majors with the Cubs, who lead their division by 3 1/2 games despite having received uninspiring production from their bullpen. The Cubs have, however, worked to upgrade their relief corps in recent days, as they landed Josh Osich and the currently injured Andrew Chafin at the trade deadline before reuniting with Strop.
This is fantastic news. I believe it will be beneficial to all parties involved.
Eloy Jiménez agrees with this statement
Your trolling has taken a nosedive lately
Get lost!
Judging by the lame comments on every Cubs thread, I gotta figure that the only Sox fans on MLBTR are high school sophomores.
Aaron S was wrong!!
This is fantastic. One of the better relievers in Cubs history. And they need bullpen help badly. Hopefully he rebounds and it’s beneficial for both parties.
Wow!! Back to CHI town. Good for him. Their bullpen has been atrocious. Kimbrel has been terrible, wick’s been their only bright spot, and they’ve had bullpen troubles for years. Good move for both sides. Hopefully, he’ll be able to gain a back-end job pretty soon.
I’m so glad the cubs have sooooooo much money to spend on worthless players. It warms my heart. Wrigley field is the world’s largest blank bar
..and a Brewers fan joins the fun with the Cards and Sox trolls. It’s true that the enemy of your enemy is your friend.
I love the Brewers.
Except when playing the greatest team in MLB – Chicago White Sox!
STL and anyone else who plays the lowly Cubbies are beloved as well!!!
Does anybody really notice Chicago’s OTHER team by the looks of Comiskey/US Cellular/ Guaranteed Rate/ Chico’s Bail Bonds Field when fan (not plural) are actually allow to ge in there? One way to allow the attendance issues of the Sox to be fixed is to move them to Nashville which is being discussed.
There’s no way the Sox are leaving Chicago – No Way!
If anyone leaves Chicago for Nashville, it’s the low budget, broke already, lowly Cubbies.
Lower cost of living in Nashville.
Wicks only bright spot?
Jeffress, Tepera?
Glad to see him back, not expecting much though.
Dumpster Divin Theo!
I am having deja vu.
Whoa… talk about desperate.
Go away
Totally, not only desperate, but also transparent, pathetic and thirsty. Wait, we are talking about the same thing, right? Your obsession with ANYTHING Cubs. Just give it up already and go buy a Rizzo jersey.
Wonder if he’s learned how to wear a baseball cap properly. Most likely why he was released. They couldn’t stand looking at that in Cincinnati.
Anyone who can’t stand “looking at that” is part of the problem. Enjoy your bigotry.
This
With all due respect, Strop has been wearing his cap that way since his rookie year in Baltimore. I believe he wears the cap that way more for his passion for the game and individuality as opposed to your interpretation of perceived disrespect. However, when you secure an exclusive interview with him due to your renown clout and contradict my interpretation, please post and I will be sure to ignore your raciest and shortsighted comment.
Would you rather see the White Sox win the World Series or the Cubs lose the World Series (not playing each other in either scenario)?
Hahaha, Heyman just tweeted that Strop chose the Cubs over the White Sox. I wonder if the White Sox picked him up what these meatball fans would be saying.
They would be rubbing one out.
Haha. That’s fantastic. In fairness the two are three white Sox trolls are the same person.
Lol the white Sox wanted to sign him as well. If they had done this, I guarantee you wouldn’t be calling them desperate. Hating just to hate, per usual.
@Cey Hey. You might catch some flack for that but I completely agree. I remember thinking similarly as the commenter you spoke up against when Fernando Rodney wore his hat turned side ways. Then I read his story about how it was to honor his father who wore his hat side ways to keep the sun out of his eyes because he worked the fields. I felt like such a bag of garbage after that. It also made me take a hard look at myself and why I would why would feel that way about something so harmless.
Shine a light on your ignorance and the only thing that remains is you.
Yes, perhaps Strop did not pass the Sox doctors’ medical exams.
But the Cubs are desperate.
This is fun, it will certainly be good for the clubhouse. If he has anything left in the tank and captures even a glimpse of what he once had, it’ll be a nice bonus.
I am laughing at all the fans saying “Glad to have him back. He was one of the best relievers in Cubs history” Yes he was. But so was Lee Smith and I don’t want him back either. Strop’s fastball has dropped 4mph. That is a huge drop-off for 1 year. I hope it works out but I am being realistic and there is a reason we let him walk before.
That’s why all of the other 29 teams wanted him so badly?
He sux !!
He’s going to alternate site. Maybe they can fix him. Why do people get so worked up about these types of deals. He’s not going into the closer role tomorrow. The cubs literally just picked up Jeffress in the off season in the same manner and he’s the best pitcher in the bullpen.
I thought he only signed ex red sox players, or was that before their pitching staff resembled quality wise to that of some Jr high variety in Boston?
Can’t hurt, but I’ll be surprised if it helps that awful bullpen of has-beens, never-weres, and rejects.
Quite a steal for the Cubs in trade with Jake Arrieta from the Orioles in 2013 for Steve Clevenger and Scott Feldman – that sure was a lopsided deal
Hard to believe that Strop will have much of an impact at this point in his career
It wouldn’t be a Cubs post without chitown311, themed and ChiSoxCity commenting. Don’t look when ChiSoxFan gets here. They’ll start circle jerking.
I don’t even like the Cubs, but those people are so insufferable that you just have to root for them to ruin their days.
True
It’s “ChiSox_Fan”!
If he gets sick it might not be Covid — it could just be Strop throat !
Doh
Had an excellent career with the Cubs but certainly past his prime. Let’s get the next Kimbrel and the next Strop instead
The last remnant of the Arrieta trade is back!
Pedro is the 4 th best Relief pitcher in Cub history behind Sutter,L.Smith& one timer Chapman . I’m glad he is back : let’s Go Cubs/ he will get his magic back soon.
If Jefferson can get his fair due he would be 5th but I still have hope in Kimbral
Strop is worth a shot. As far as the white sox fans who spend their days trolling these boards you just have to feel bad for them and just ignore them.
How did this guy last for the Cubs to claim him. Nobody else wanted him with a worse record
The rest of the NL Central is happy to see Pedro Stroke back in the division.
Didn’t really wanna see him in a Sox uni but he was good for the Cubs so meh.
Probably won’t even pitch for them
Sox games so boring to watch!
They win nearly every game.
Home run after home run!
Where is the drama? The excitement?
Its either a home run or a K for 70% of their lineup. Only a matter of time before pitchers figure out Robert
7 runs tonight without a HR! Ha!
“Only matter of time Pitchers figure out Robert”:
Silly. Incredible player already performing off raw skill. Good teams make him chase. If he lays off junk (only rookie), he could be best player in MLB and that is not hyperbole.
Low risk move. He isn’t the same pitcher he was 4 years ago. So who knows how he’ll do.
who’s next? Kerry Wood?
Carlos Marmol!
Cubs never fail to dumpster dive. Incoming cubs fans who dare complaint about Sox trolls when cubs trolls do the same thing in Sox articles. Love it!