Cubs announce contract extension for Pedro Strop
Steve Mitchell - USA Today Sports

Cubs announce contract extension for Pedro Strop


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MESA, Ariz. – The Chicago Cubs and right-handed pitcher Pedro Strop have agreed to terms on a 2018 contract extension with a club option for the 2019 campaign. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Strop, 31, has totaled 84 holds, a 0.98 WHIP and a 2.68 ERA (63 ER/211.1 IP) in 232 relief appearances with the Cubs covering the last four seasons since being acquired with righthander Jake Arrieta from Baltimore on July 2, 2013. Since joining the Cubs, Strop leads all National League relief pitchers with a .173 batting average against, ranks second in holds, ranks third-lowest with a .530 opponent OPS, is tied for third in WHIP and ranks fourth with an average of 10.82 strikeouts per nine innings (all minimum 200 appearances).

Last season, Strop went 2-2 with 21 holds, a 0.89 WHIP and a 2.85 ERA (15 ER/47.1 IP) despite being limited to 54 relief outings due to late-season knee and groin injuries. He combined to post no record and a 3.18 ERA (2 ER/5.2 IP) in eight post-season appearances.

Strop broke into the big leagues with the Texas Rangers in 2009 and was acquired by Baltimore near the end of the 2011 campaign. In 2012, he served as one of Baltimore’s primary set-up men, going 5-2 with three saves, 24 holds and a 2.44 ERA (18 ER/66.1 IP) in 70 relief appearances. However, Strop began the 2013 campaign by posting a 7.25 ERA (18 ER/22.1 IP) in 29 outings and was traded to the Cubs with Arrieta and two international signing bonus slots for righthander Scott Feldman and catcher Steve Clevenger just before the All-Star Break. Strop posted a 2.83 ERA (11 ER/35.0 IP) in 37 outings with the Cubs throughout the remainder of the 2013 campaign.

Overall, Strop is 15-20 with nine saves, 116 holds and a 3.23 ERA (122 ER/339.2 IP) in 376 relief appearances covering all or part of eight major league seasons with Texas (2009-11), Baltimore (2011-13) and the Cubs (2013-16).

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