Pedro Strop a key component to 2014 Chicago Cubs’ bullpen

The Chicago Cubs had a very solid bullpen during the 2014 season, and while the team didn’t end up with a great overall record, the relievers were certainly a bright spot on a team that improved as the season advanced.

Players like Neil Ramirez and Hector Rondon managed to have very good seasons due to the fact they shut down the opposition in the final innings. However, most of their appearances wouldn’t have been possible without the help of another late-inning reliever, Pedro Strop.

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Strop joined the Cubs during the 2013 season from the trade that sent him and Jake Arrieta in exchange for Scott Feldman and Steve Clevenger – which a year later looks like one of the best trades made by Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer – he was mostly used as a late-inning option. His 2013 campaign was solid as he established himself as a potential long-term piece thanks to a 2.83 ERA and a 10.8 K/9 ratio.

Strop was expected to take a leap forward during 2014 and while he didn’t win the closer job thanks to the impressive performance of Rondon, the 29-year-old posted even better numbers than last season. Strop finished 2014 with a 2-4 record and a 2.21 ERA to go along with even better peripherals; his 2.66 FIP and 1.066 WHIP suggest that Strop’s year wasn’t a fluke and that he was able to match his talent with results. He also kept the ball in the park (0.3 HR/9), threw strikes (10.5 K/9) and even though his walks were a bit higher than desired (3.7 BB/9), his overall numbers were encouraging.

Strop still has some consistency issues he needs to fix, but he has all the makings to be a key piece in a much improved bullpen for the North Siders. He’s expected to continue his development as one of the many power arms for Chicago in the 2015 season, and even though he might not end up with a late-inning or a setup role he has shown the capacity to shut down the opposition on any given day. That’s exactly what the Cubs need going forward.