The Cubs have agreed to a contract extension with right-hander Pedro Strop, per ESPN Chicago’s Jesse Rogers. The new deal will run through the 2018 campaign and comes with a club option for the 2019 season. That buys out one year of free agency for Strop, who was set to hit the open market next winter, and gives Chicago an option over what would’ve been his second free-agent season.
Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune tweets that Strop will be guaranteed $5.85MM in 2018, and the option season is valued at $6.25MM (with a $500K buyout). Paired with Strop’s $5.5MM salary for the upcoming 2017 campaign, the right-hander is now playing on a two-year, $11.85MM deal with a reasonable option for the 2019 campaign. Strop is represented by the Legacy Agency.
The 31-year-old Strop is the oft-unheralded second piece the Cubs received in the 2013 Jake Arrieta heist. But while he doesn’t generate the headlines and fanfare of his Cy Young teammate, Strop has nonetheless been an outstanding bullpen piece for the Cubs since being acquired from Baltimore.
Strop has never posted an ERA north of 3.00 in any of his four years with the Cubs, and he’s worked to an overall ERA of 2.68 in 211 1/3 innings in Chicago. Along the way, he’s averaged 10.8 strikeouts against 3.4 walks per nine innings pitched to go along with a 53.6 percent ground-ball rate and a fastball that has averaged 95.2 mph.
Given that level of excellence, it’s at least somewhat of a surprise to see Strop take a short-term extension when free agency was just around the corner. He’d have landed on the open market in advance of his age-33 season (he’ll turn 32 this June) and hasn’t worked extensively as a closer, so he wouldn’t have been in line for any of the record-setting mega-deals we saw earlier this offseason. However, the market for top-level relief help has become more robust in recent years, and Strop still could’ve had a chance at cashing in on a fairly significant multi-year deal in free agency.
There’s something to be said, of course, for taking a risk-averse approach to financial security, and Strop had earned fewer than $10MM in his career prior to this deal. He did also miss nearly six weeks with a torn meniscus in his left knee last season, and any lingering effects from that injury could have negatively impacted his earning capacity. By signing the new contract, Strop assures himself of an additional $6.35MM while also remaining in an environment where he’s comfortable and knows he has a chance to win over the life of the deal. That last part seems to have been a key factor for the righty, who told reporters that he recognizes he could’ve potentially been viewed as a closer in free agency (Twitter links via Rogers and via Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun Times). “I like to win better than roles,” Strop told the media.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Guy is really good…awesome move
I love it. Thank you Theo.
Good move now pay Rondon :Go Cubs
Agree with both comments ‘here here t Theo … let’s lock up hector too’
Great move for the Cubs. Lock him up for the years before he’s declining instead of overpaying in free agency. No doubt he would have beat that guaranteed money as a free agent.
“2013 heist” it won’t end.
It should never end, the orioles gave up way to much for to little. I can see why they might have thought that Arrieta was done, but he still had potential plus they gave up strop
this could turn out to be an even better deal if they give him first crack at closer in 2018 – if he turns out to be a stud closer in 2018 then they get a stud closer in 2019 on the cheap. If he can’t pull off the closer role they can just pick up the option and put him back to 8th inning guy.
I see Edwards as future closer but love strop as set up man. Turn those hats to the side and celebrate
As a Rangers fan, it pains me to look at the cubs pitching staff between strop edwards and hendricks
Justin Grimm
Grimm has really only had one good year, but the point remains
One good year? How do you figure? Grimm had a sub 3 era for his first 2+ years combined with the cubs.
i can see edwards as the closer too – but if they turn strop into a closer in 2018 and then pick up his option think of the haul they could get for a closer at that price
Me too, but only if he can crack the mythical 170 lb bodyweight line…
Edwards could be a better option at closer.
Seeing his stats always amaze me, because I have the habit of tuning into a Cubs game about 4 times a year, and its always the exact time he gets roughed up.
Same for me with Pedro Baez.
and me with familla
He had a great first half last season. He (and the entire bullpen) regressed rapidly after the AS break.
I wouldn’t say he regressed terribly. 1.74 ERA in July, 7.71 ERA in August (but only made 4 appearances and only gave up two ER due to him tearing a ligament in his knee early in the month), 3.38 ERA in an injury-shorted September that only yielded 1 ER. And a 3.18 playoff ERA. So it’s not like he fell off a cliff like Rondon did.
I had him checking out as a free agent. Nice to see the DVD/shirsey money being wisely invested.
Glad Strop’s getting the recognition he deserves. Big piece of Baltimore’s 2012 run.
Remember when he played LF last year?
Travis Wood remembers.
Nothing better than Strop-y high stepping and flapping the arms down the line with the hitter on a walk off homer!!!
Maddon has been very clear he’s going to rest the starters a good portion of the year. For my money, the only reason the World Series was close is that Strop and Rondon were hurt in August, September and October. A healthy trio with Chapman would have been lights out and they would not have had to depend on Chapman time after time. Maddon has already stated that he rode Rondon too hard (five of six games in early August). It will be interesting to see how he conserves the pen this year.
Except one could argue the same on the Indians side being without Brantley, Carrasco, and Salazar….
Strop must have negotiated that deal himself. Good deal for the Cubs, don’t like it for the player..
Tend to agree, but he might’ve been spooked by the market this offseason & the increasing dislike of players over 30 by GMs.
So who’s on PEDS?
Strop, Arrieta or both
Both guys miraculously added 20-40 lbs of muscle in their late late 20s. If you google images of Arrieta when he was up with O’s in his kids 20s he looks like a totally different person. Most obvious player nowadays on PEDS
You’re an idiot.
I’m gonna go off the board and say neither
if only MLB tested for these things so we’d know
….oh wait, they do.
Great attitude from Pedro.