Hats to the left: Cubs bring back Strop on minors deal

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First Jake Arrieta, now Pedro Strop.

The Cubs are reuniting with another key pitcher from their 2016 championship team, bringing back the reliever on a minor league deal, NBC Sports Chicago's Gordon Wittenmyer confirmed.

Strop spent seven seasons with the Cubs from 2013-19, coming over with Arrieta from Baltimore at the 2013 trade deadline. Theo Epstein recalled in November how Jed Hoyer, now the Cubs president, pushed to get Strop included in the deal with Arrieta, one of the best trades in team history.

"Jed kept on pounding the table that we could get a throw-in in that [deal]," Epstein said. "It had to be this guy named Pedro Strop, even though he had like an 11 ERA the year before with the Orioles and was seemingly lost at the time as a pitcher. Jed kept pounding the table saying, ‘Not only can we can we get more, but he's the right guy.’"

Strop was certainly the right guy. He holds a career 2.90 ERA in 411 career appearances with the club. His 120 holds are an all-time Cubs record.

Strop left for the Reds in free agency last winter but was designated for assignment in August. He re-joined the Cubs late in the season on a minor league deal but didn't pitch for the big league club.

Strop has dealt with injuries in recent seasons, including three hamstring strains in an eight-month span from 2018-19 and a right groin strain in 2020. He's another potential veteran reliever in the mix for a spot in the Cubs bullpen.

The Cubs are also nearing a major league deal with right-hander Brandon Workman.

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