It’s not really a surprise to learn that the Cubs are interested in a reunion with one of the best relievers in the history of their organization (believe it or not, that’s just a fact). It was always the case that, if Pedro Strop’s market was not robust after his down/injured 2019 season, the Cubs would love to have him back on a reasonable (maybe minor league) deal.
The question, instead, has always been about whether other teams would be in on him more aggressively than the Cubs. A couple reports indicate that the Cubs are in, but so are the Marlins and Rangers … and one of the two reports adds the Brewers:
https://twitter.com/williamaish/status/1218209591126831106
Marlins, Cubs, Rangers & Brewers are believed to be among the teams with some interest in Pedro Strop
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) January 20, 2020
Oof. I don’t care how “done” you might think Strop is at this point, I do not want to see him signing with the Brewers (and the Cubs shouldn’t want the Brewers picking his brain, either). That would make me very sad.
But the flip side is, if those teams – including the Brewers – are willing to offer him a guaranteed deal? Or even just a better path to a big league job (the Cubs are overloaded already with fringe reliever options)? It would be hard to knock Strop for getting the best deal he can at this point.
What is the reality on the market for a 34-year-old who suffered multiple hamstring injuries over a one year period, who saw his performance recede, and who saw his fastball velocity drop by nearly two MPH? It’s probably not great. So he’s gonna have to take what he can get.
As for the Cubs, like so many of their relievers, they cannot afford to go into 2020 expecting that Strop will be a key part of the bullpen. But it would be crazy not to bring him back on a modest deal if he’s open to it and if the market isn’t kinder to him elsewhere. I wouldn’t put it past him to adjust to his new velocity range and become a useful middle reliever, while also providing a quality veteran presence.