Pedro

Strop

Strop asked for his release and it was granted. The 35-year-old right-hander is currently in the Dominican Republic tending to a personal matter, but he’ll presumably try to latch on with a new organization at some point in the near future. He’s logged only 4 1/3 innings at the MLB level since the beginning of 2020.

Strop tossed a pair of scoreless innings for the Cubs earlier this week. The 35-year-old veteran righty didn’t have to be added to the 40-man roster because to a roster exemption created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but he’ll need to be added before he can be brought back up again.

Per a new roster exemption this year, a player can be temporarily added to a team’s 40-man roster to replace a player going on the COVID-19 injured list and then later removed without going through the waiver process. Strop will help out a bullpen that’s without three members.

Miller had reportedly emerged as a viable candidate for the final spot in the Cubs’ Opening Day rotation, but will open the 2021 campaign at the team’s alternate training site or Triple-A Iowa. Strop is another high-profile subtraction as the team reduces it’s spring training roster to 31 players with less than a week to go before the regular season. Both Miller and Strop should find their way to Wrigley Field at some point this year.

Strop has been away from the club since the infraction, but he didn’t test positive for COVID-19 and will now rejoin his teammates. The veteran reliever signed a minor league deal to return to the Cubs in February after missing most of 2020 with a groin injury.

Strop violated COVID-19 protocols, but hasn’t tested positive and he’ll be back in camp soon assuming that continues. The veteran reliever signed a minor league deal to return to the Cubs in February after missing most of 2020 with a groin injury. This isn’t the best start in his attempt to make the Opening Day roster.

Strop was apparently tagged in a since-deleted social media post with Indians slugger Franmil Reyes, who has also been removed from his team for breaking protocol. Cubs manager David Ross stated, “It’s just a good reminder that we’ve got to continue to follow protocols. It’s easy to get in this environment and relax.” The 35-year-old will need to quarantine and successfully pass protocol before being allowed to rejoin the team. The veteran reliever signed a minor league deal to return to the Cubs in February after missing most of 2020 with a groin injury. Strop will compete for a spot in the Chicago bullpen upon his return.

Strop joined the Cubs last September after getting released by the Reds but did not appear in a game down the stretch for Chicago. The veteran reliever will try to win a bullpen spot in camp this spring.

Strop was released by the Reds on Friday before quickly reuniting with the Cubs. He’ll report to the team’s alternate training site, but odds are he’ll contribute out of the major league bullpen down the stretch.

Strop -- who was officially released by the Reds on Friday -- didn’t spend long looking for work. He’ll return to the north side of Chicago where he excelled as a setup man from 2013-2019. Strop appeared in just four games for the Reds, posting a 3.86 ERA and 3.00 WHIP over 2 1/3 innings of work. He’ll report initially to the team’s alternate training site.