Reds Sign Former Cubs Reliever Pedro Strop to One-Year Deal
By Karl Rasmussen
Look out for the Reds, folks. This is a team looking to make the push in 2020, and they've been securing deals left and right throughout the offseason.
The latest addition is yet another poach from a division rival. The Reds have reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with free agent right-hander Pedro Strop, per Hector Gomez and Ken Rosenthal.
Source confirms: Free-agent reliever Pedro Strop in agreement with #Reds on one-year, $1.825M contract. Performance bonuses can raise total value to $3.5M. Represented by Movement Management Group. First reported: @hgomez27.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 30, 2020
The deal is worth $1.825 million, per reports, but incentives could see that sum rise to as much as $3.5 million.
Strop had a year to forget in 2019, posting a 4.97 ERA across 50 appearances, arguably the worst season of his career.
Report: Pedro Strop close to deal with Reds https://t.co/MlmM0QpDd9
— Rotoworld Baseball (@Rotoworld_BB) January 30, 2020
Since joining the Cubs in 2013, Strop had not recorded an ERA above 3.00 in any season, establishing himself as one of the game's most reliable bullpen weapons, and furthering Fernando Rodney's legacy of cocked hats for a new generation. Unfortunately, he took a step backwards in his contract year, and now the Reds were able to land him on a very cost-friendly deal.
This marks the second player the Reds have stolen from the Cubbies' clutches in the past week, having recently bartered a four-year deal with Nicholas Castellanos.
While the Cubs have essentially stood still this offseason, the Reds have ensured they will be at the forefront of the division race.