The Chicago Cubs today exercised their 2019 club contract option on right-handed pitcher Pedro Strop.
Strop, 33, went 6-1 with nine holds, 13 saves and a 2.26 ERA (15 ER/59.2 IP) in 60 relief outings with the Cubs last season, his sixth year with the organization since being acquired from Baltimore with righthander Jake Arrieta on July 2, 2013. Strop is the franchise's all-time leader with 114 holds while his 2.63 ERA ranks second among Cubs relievers all-time (minimum 100 games), trailing only Hall of Famer Bruce Sutter (2.39). Strop has posted a sub-3.00 ERA in each of his six seasons with the Cubs.
Overall, Strop has gone 19-19 with 114 holds, 19 saves and a 2.63 ERA (97 ER/331.1 IP) in 331 career relief appearances with the Cubs. He has struck out 376 batters in 331.1 innings pitched, an average of 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings, while recording a 1.02 WHIP and holding opponents to a .181 batting average, .276 slugging percentage and a .548 OPS. Starting July 2, 2013, Strop leads all National League relievers in opponent batting average and slugging percentage while ranking second in opponent OPS.