Cubs, Strop avoid arbitration with 1-year deal

The Cubs avoided arbitration with their final eligible player on Thursday, agreeing to a one-year, $2.525 million deal with reliever Pedro Strop.

The right-hander will get a raise from $1.325 million after putting together a strong season in the Chicago bullpen. Strop appeared in 65 games, posting a 2.21 ERA over 61 innings, with 25 walks and 71 strikeouts. He picked up two saves and held batters to a .187 average, including .169 against righties.

The 29-year-old owns a 3.41 ERA in 246 career games for the Rangers, Orioles and Cubs since debuting in 2009. Chicago acquired him, along with starter Jake Arrieta, in the deal that sent Scott Feldman to Baltimore in July '13.

With the Cubs, Strop has produced a 2.44 ERA and 113 strikeouts over 96 innings.