Cubs: Pedro Strop’s recent actions are selfish, irresponsible

Hats to the left, exit stage left…

It appears we have our first Cubs-related COVID controversy of spring training and it involves a fan favorite former Cubs reliever trying to carve out a spot in the 2021 big league bullpen. That’s right, hats will not be worn to the left for an unspecified amount of time as Pedro Strop was held out of camp today and will not be immediately allowed back to the training complex after breaking the league’s COVID protocols.

Cubs beat writer Gordon Wittenmyer was on it both from the MLB side and Cubs side, and broke the news on Twitter. While the club has nothing to do with the contact tracing and protocols since it’s in MLB’s hands now, David Ross will be sure to address this with everyone in camp. In fact, it’s probably more of a redundant thing at this point as I’m sure it’s been reiterated nearly a million times to keep everyone safe, in camp, and on schedule in the early part of Cactus League action.

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According to since deleted tweets Strop had been tagged in, he appeared to be out and about with fellow countrymen Franmil Reyes and Jose Ramirez of the Cleveland Indians, who also were sent home from the Indians for violating the league’s protocols. For Reyes, this isn’t his first offense.

While the Indians aren’t really relevant in terms of Strop making Chicago’s big league roster, it is noteworthy in a diametrically opposed kind of way that the Indians had a huge COVID scandal last season and the Cubs were the only team in baseball without a positive test. I don’t know if that’s a coincidence or irony, but both thoughts did enter my brain when I heard the news.

Cubs should expect more from Pedro Strop

Strop will now play the waiting game in quarantine, putting him behind the eight ball to make the club this spring. At least he has a track record with the organization, or this slip-up would most likely have ended his chances with the club in 2021.

Here’s hoping he can get back into camp and regain some of his former glory. Hats to the left would most definitely be a welcome sight for fans this summer at Wrigley.