Could a Certain Former Cub and Current Cincinnati Red Make His Way Back to Chicago?
The Cincinnati Reds were supposed to be the team to beat in the National League Central. They had all the huge free agency splashes, they signed Mike Moustakas, Wade Miley, Pedro Strop, and Nicholas Castellanos. They had pitching holdovers, Sonny Grey and Trevor Bauer primed to help Luis Castillo form the most dominant starting staff in the National League.
But, through the fog of COVID-19 and poor play, the Reds are sitting in fourth place in the NL Central, six games under .500, and would be outside the playoffs looking in. Even with playoff teams expanded.
Even with a hot start from Castellanos, who has since cooled off, the Reds are one of the more likely teams to sell this week.
While a lot of Cubs fans want to see Castellanos back in Wrigley, and so do I, the chances of that happening are rather slim. In fact, I am unsure if the Cubs will do much in terms of trades due to the current climate and uncertainty surrounding COVID and joining new groups of teammates.
But, I can see the Cubs potentially taking a shot at recently, designated-for-assignment Pedro Strop.
Yes, that Pedro Strop. The guy that is yet another player to have split the Cubs fan base and has caused many internet arguments. The Pedro Strop that is, factually, one of the best and most successful Cubs relief pitchers of all-time, but was also not very good at closing games out (as seen in 2019).
Strop is sixth all-time in games pitched as a Cub, owns a career 2.90 ERA here, and owns the most holds in Cubs history. He appeared in four games for the Reds before injuring his groin on August 7th. He was set to come off the IL and the Reds designated him for assignment immediately after taking him off the list.
Whoever picks him up (if anyone does) they would pay a pro-rated portion of the league minimum (which has already been prorated from $563.5k) which should be less than $200,000. That isn’t a huge risk for someone who has been a very valuable part of the Cubs bullpen in the past, and worst-case would sit in South Bend if the Cubs aren’t comfortable calling him up to Chicago.
