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Cubs To Sign Pedro Strop

By Steve Adams | February 17, 2021 at 9:58am CDT

The Cubs have another reunion in the works, agreeing to a minor league contract and Spring Training invite with free-agent righty Pedro Strop, as first reported by Mike Rodriguez (Twitter link). Strop, a client QC Sports, will earn $800K if he makes the big league club.

Strop, acquired alongside Jake Arrieta in one of the more lopsided deals in recent memory, was with the Cubs from 2013-19 before an extremely brief, 2 1/3-inning stint with the Reds in 2020. He and Arrieta, who reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with the Cubs last week, could now both be back at Wrigley Field for the 2021 campaign.

A groin injury limited Strop’s time with the Reds in 2020, but his results even when on the mound weren’t particularly encouraging. It was a small sample, of course, but Strop walked six of the 15 batters he faced and also threw a wild pitch, indicating that his control wasn’t anywhere near its usual levels. It’s likely that the groin injury contributed to those struggles, but the Reds didn’t give him much of a chance to right the ship; Strop was designated for assignment immediately upon coming off the IL. He returned to the Cubs on a minor league deal but didn’t get back to the Majors.

Now healthy, the 35-year-old Strop should have a decent chance of making the team. The Cubs’ bullpen is largely unsettled behind closer Craig Kimbrel — and even he has yet to ever truly find consistency in Chicago. The Cubs reportedly agreed to a deal with Brandon Workman earlier this morning, and they’ve also signed lefty Andrew Chafin to a big league deal. Beyond that, they’ll rely on a host of journeymen and/or prospects with limited MLB track records. Rowan Wick, Dan Winkler, Duane Underwood Jr., Jason Adam and Brad Wieck are among the team’s other options in the ’pen.

Certainly, given his track record, Strop could have an inside track on a bullpen spot. The righty’s original seven-year stint with the Cubs, after all, was an undeniable success. He racked up 373 innings out of the Chicago bullpen, pitching to a 2.90 ERA with 28 saves, 110 holds, a 28.1 percent strikeout rate and a 9.7 percent walk rate. He added in 17 innings of 2.12 ERA ball in the postseason, including a pair of scoreless frames in the 2016 World Series.

There’s surely some sentimental value in the signing for Cubs fans, but it’s hard to overlook the fact that the team is putting together a patchwork bullpen for the third straight offseason. The combined $3.75MM the Cubs have spent on Workman and Chafin is the only guaranteed money invested in the bullpen this winter, and the club hasn’t succeeded in developing a reliable in-house reliever in years. To their credit, the organization has still posted middle-of-the-pack results in terms of bullpen ERA despite the lack of homegrown arms or notable additions, but it’s also tough to cobble together an effective relief corps in this manner each offseason.

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Chicago Cubs Transactions Pedro Strop

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View Comments (63)

Comments

  1. Kirk Nieuwenhuis For MVP

    1 year ago

    *obligatory “dumpster diving Hoyer” comment*

    Reply
    • WereAllJustGuestsHere

      1 year ago

      He and 29 other teams handing minor league deals to pitchers.

      Reply
      • Kirk Nieuwenhuis For MVP

        1 year ago

        https://tenor.com/o2CO.gif

        Reply
        • WereAllJustGuestsHere

          1 year ago

          Yes. I was your first upvote. Knew what you were getting at.

    • TXCubfan

      1 year ago

      I hope part of the contract states he has to adjust his hat .

      Reply
      • PeteWard8

        1 year ago

        Cubs really embarrassing themselves.

        Reply
        • ZacharyPaul

          1 year ago

          How are they embarrassing themselves by signing a guy to a minor league deal with an invite? If he sucks in the spring, then he’s gone and this didn’t matter. If he doesn’t, then they got a veteran relief pitcher for 800K. The amount of complete idiots on these boards nowadays is crazy.

        • PeteWard8

          1 year ago

          I mean the whole thing and not just this Strop signing. Arrieta Workman and the attitude coming from the whole organization. Bryant announcing he isn’t having fun and much more. It’s embarrassing. And I would never tell you that your opinion on any subject was causing you to be a complete idiot.

        • Capi

          1 year ago

          I wouldn’t call you an idiot and I don’t completely disagree with you about the way the organization is being handled, but I don’t think the moves have been that bad (given the cards Hoyer was dealt)… But Kris Bryant whining about not having fun… Well, I know about every single middle and lower class person that wouldn’t mind having as bad a time Kris Bryant is having for the millions of dollars he’s making.

          If he’s not having fun, then he should retire instead of announcing it to the world.. That’s a slap in the face for people that work 8 to 5 and people in the army and first responders that actually put their lives at risk for a fraction of what Bryant is making to play a game.

  2. baseballpun

    1 year ago

    I guess Hoyer woke up in a dumpster this morning.

    Reply
    • johnsilver

      1 year ago

      I wouldn’t say that. Strop could actually be useful if he’s healthy and comes on the cheap. The dumpster dive sign today by Hoyer cost the Cubs money.. Giving the finished Arieta 6m.. What a coup by that clam Boras.. Wonder how high he had to get Hoyer to con him into that deal?

      Reply
      • CFS77

        1 year ago

        Strop is a 2 seam pitcher that lived low in the zone. The upper cut killed him. Pitchers adjusted by going higher and he kept low.

        Reply
        • PeteWard8

          1 year ago

          CFS77- nice post

  3. Ully

    1 year ago

    Strop it, Strop it…..

    Strop! Strop!

    Reply
  4. ItsStillMillerPark

    1 year ago

    Man the Brewers and Cubs competing over who can sign the most junk this winter….

    Reply
  5. themed

    1 year ago

    Oh brother signed the crooked cap guy. That’s always a disgusting site.

    Reply
    • ICanSeeTheFuture

      1 year ago

      Old Man Yells at Cloud

      Reply
    • CarolinaRays

      1 year ago

      That damn Ken Griffey Jr has no respect for the game

      Reply
    • adkuchan

      1 year ago

      I’m not sure which makes my grumpy old man more triggered… crooked hats or incorrect homophone usage.

      Reply
  6. CaptainCanada

    1 year ago

    I guess bringing back the 2016 champion team is the new strategy. (this is a joke)

    I am a cubs fan, what is happening for real though?

    Reply
    • Cubsforever22

      1 year ago

      He finished the year last year at the alternate site. Strop is a Cubs legend and he prolly won’t make the team, our bp is going to surprise people but mainly 3 simple points on this.
      1. He’s a cubs legend great guy
      2. He was getting minor lg contract on a flyer from someone, why not let it be the team he won a ring with and finished last season in the org.
      3. I love Pedro

      Reply
      • louwhitakerisahofer

        1 year ago

        Cubs legend? Come on man… he was a nice bullpen guy during a stretch of successful Cubs teams, but definitely not a legend.

        He IS a valuable add for this team though. Could carve his way into a quality 7th inning guy.

        Reply
        • Ry.the.Stunner

          1 year ago

          Calling him a “nice bullpen guy” is a massive understatement. He holds the Cubs record for holds and had a 2.61 ERA from 2014-2018 and an overall ERA of 2.90 in 7 years with the Cubs. I don’t know if legend is the right word or not, but he was 100% an elite bullpen arm for them every year except for his final season.

    • IACub

      1 year ago

      its a minor league deal. Either it works out or we forget this transaction even happened.

      Reply
    • Technically correct

      1 year ago

      Holy Spaceballs! I just had a moment of complete clarity. How do you make up for lost revenue? Merchandising, merchandising, where the real money from the team is made. 2016 Cubs-the T-shirt, 2016 Cubs-the Coloring Book, 2016 Cubs-the Lunch box, 2016 Cubs-the Breakfast Cereal, 2016 Cubs-the Flame Thrower…

      Reply
  7. Luc 2

    1 year ago

    I loved Strop in terms of his style. He always was hyped when he got out of a big moment and I liked his motion

    Reply
  8. Lloyd Emerson

    1 year ago

    I’m sure they’re in touch with Hector Rondon’s agent too…

    Reply
    • mlb1225

      1 year ago

      Too late, already signed with Phillies.

      Reply
      • phillesfan07

        1 year ago

        As a Phillies fan, I see nothing wrong with Hector Rondon so I don’t quite understand why you used that like a negative.

        Reply
        • mlb1225

          1 year ago

          I don’t think it’s a bad signing. Solid minor league depth. Just saying that he’s already signed with the Phils.

        • phillesfan07

          1 year ago

          Sorry, didn’t mean to reply to you @mlb1225 I was trying to infer @Lloyd made those comments in a way, not you. My bad for not clarifying.

    • louwhitakerisahofer

      1 year ago

      Robson was signed, but Antonio Alfonseca is on speed dial.

      Reply
      • stpbaseball

        1 year ago

        the six fingered man? anigo Montoya is looking for that guy

        Reply
      • Dumpster Divin Theo

        1 year ago

        Senor Matchlight Mel Rojas is available

        Reply
  9. Davro

    1 year ago

    Absolutely nothing wrong with this. Don’t feed the trolls.

    Reply
    • baseballpun

      1 year ago

      More like Pedro Strapped for cash, right?

      The Cubs that is. They’re strapped for cash.

      Not really, though. Ricketts just sucks.

      Reply
      • Davro

        1 year ago

        Them and 28 other teams not spending as much. Do some research. Try to understand what is going on. Maybe you are the one that sucks.

        Reply
        • baseballpun

          1 year ago

          I don’t suck. YOU suck. YOU are the one who sucks. You are the suckiest suck who’s ever sucked.

        • Twinsfan333

          1 year ago

          More your pun sucked. I’m sure you’re great. If it’s a 1 or a 2 don’t go with it. Have some standards. I get you aren’t George Carlin, but still you can get to mediocre.

        • baseballpun

          1 year ago

          Pedro Strapped is a GREAT pun. It’s both hilarious wordplay AND a keen insight into the financial position the Cubs claim they are facing. It works on MULTIPLE levels. If you don’t get it, MAN, that’s on YOU. Maybe I’m just operating on a level that you all can’t even HANDLE! Like, a CELESTIAL level of comedy that would BLOW YOUR EFFING MIND if you could even approach comprehension of my genius.

        • Ducky Buckin Fent

          1 year ago

          Yeah.
          ^ that’s probably it.

        • baseballpun

          1 year ago

          THIS guy gets it.

        • Ducky Buckin Fent

          1 year ago

          Blind squirrels. Acorns.

          It’s bound to happen sometime.

  10. Rayland#1

    1 year ago

    One of the Cubs’ all-time best relief pitchers.

    Reply
    • CaptainCanada

      1 year ago

      he was

      Reply
    • RJNarvick

      1 year ago

      You beat me to it. Same as Jake he sucked everywhere else he’s played.
      He might be A little better with the time off

      Reply
  11. Ducky Buckin Fent

    1 year ago

    Nice.
    Cubs got their Stropper.

    Reply
  12. D0M

    1 year ago

    Welcome back, sadly only losing this time.

    Reply
  13. cbrookhouzen

    1 year ago

    Welcome back Pete!! For $800k which is less than Rickett’s last yacht cost, the Cubs are taking a shot at one of the best teammates the Cubs have ever had and when healthy, a great reliever. Maddon’s idiocy in letting Pete hit in the 8th inning in Washington when he tore his groin led to his recent struggles. Here’s to hoping Pete can make the club!

    Reply
  14. 609Collectibles

    1 year ago

    In a weak division the Cubs just may have enough to be there at the end. They should hold onto Bryant and see if they can make one more run with him. If the season goes off the rails by the Allstar break you get as much as possible for him. If they are leading or within striking distance, you issue the QO. Not like they’ve had any huge offers from what’s been reported and from what we’ve seen in other high profile trades.

    Reply
  15. lefty58

    1 year ago

    This team’s a freakin joke right now.

    Reply
    • Dunk Dunkington

      1 year ago

      What a joke, they made another depth move. Totally worth getting upset about. lol

      Reply
      • DarkSide830

        1 year ago

        id be upset if my team *didn’t* make these moves and then had no depth to deal with injuries.

        Reply
        • babybears

          1 year ago

          So the White Sox

  16. dray16

    1 year ago

    happy about this one, especially being a minor league detail

    Reply
  17. sushi man

    1 year ago

    槳

    Reply
  18. mrperkins

    1 year ago

    We’re gettin’ the band back together.
    We’re on a mission from God.

    Reply
  19. Bryzzo4417!

    1 year ago

    Here comes the dumb “dumpster diving” comments like there aren’t 29 other teams also signing players to minor league deals. Y’all are something else

    Reply
    • baseballpun

      1 year ago

      The other 29 teams are all just poseurs though. The Cubbies are the OG dumpster divers.

      Reply
  20. AA_Cardinals

    1 year ago

    I’m glad the Cubs picked up Strop. He can always be counted on to give up hits to the Cardinals with the game on the line. I hope the Little Bears keep him around forever.

    Reply
  21. Ry.the.Stunner

    1 year ago

    The last time the Cubs acquired Arrieta and Strop in the same timeframe, things worked out great.

    Reply
  22. RJNarvick

    1 year ago

    Workman’s 2019 season was lights out. Cannot believe the numbers he posted. He was injured earlier in his career but was very effective in 17 and 18 when available. If he can perform like he did between 17-19 this is a great pick up.

    Reply
  23. thebare54

    1 year ago

    Great move Pedro is there best RP ever but might not have it no more but still better than what they got add him to all the W hope that ends with wins

    Reply

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