A former Cubs fan-favorite is making his way back to Wrigley Field, as Chicago has agreed to a new deal with Pedro Strop.
The slightly tilted cap is returning to the Cubs. The Chicago Cubs have agreed to a new contract with veteran reliever Pedro Strop. The contract is a minor-league one, with an invitation to spring training.
Should Strop end up making the big-league roster, the right-handed reliever will be making $800,000 for the 2021 campaign. This is a low-risk, high-reward move by the Cubs front office, as Strop has plenty of experience pitching in the NL Central with the team.
The Cubs have signed Pedro Strop to a new contract
Strop was a stud out of the bullpen for the Cubs from 2013-2019, making 411 appearances and recording a 2.90 ERA. This news comes shortly after Chicago decided to also bring back Jake Arrieta. In 2018, Strop went 6-1 for the club and recorded a 2.26 ERA. The following season, however, he struggled a bit and posted a 4.97 ERA in 50 games.
Last year, Strop suited up for the Reds, but only appeared in four games. Now, he’ll be looking to get his career back on the right track at the place where he’s had so much success previously in his career: Wrigley Field.
In addition to Strop, the Cubs also agreed to a one-year deal with reliever Brandon Workman. Chicago has had a focus on improving its bullpen depth leading up to the new season, and they’ve most certainly accomplished that by adding Workman and Strop.
While Strop’s deal doesn’t guarantee him a spot on the club’s roster for Opening Day, he’ll look to make plenty of noise during spring training to try and earn his shot. We’ll see if the hard-throwing hurler can do enough to make that happen come late March.