This former Cubs fan favorite isn't retired and wants to make a comeback

If you thought his appearance during the opening ceremonies at the 2023 Cubs Convention was a pleasant surprise, Pedro Strop is hoping that's just the beginning of a new chapter with the team.

Pedro Strop wants to pitch for the Cubs again - even at age 37

On 670 WSCR, the 37-year-old right-hander insisted he's not retired and would love to make a return to the Cubs in hopes of making a second comeback with the club. Of course, Strop came back to Chicago in 2021 after a one-year hiatus with the division-rival Reds, but made just two appearances and did not pitch last season.

At this point, Strop isn't getting anything more than a minor league offer from any team. The combination of his age and relative ineffectiveness since the end of the 2019 season (4.67 FIP in 56 appearances), it's hard to envision him being an effective contributor at this point.

For me personally, those calling for Jed Hoyer and Carter Hawkins to give Strop a contract are, once again, falling victim to graduation goggles in the same way folks have since the mid-2021 trade deadline sell-off. Frankly, there are better options within the organization already that deserve a spot on this staff, regardless of the place Strop holds in Cubs history.

The 'other piece' in the infamous Jake Arrieta trade back in 2013, Strop carved out a prominent role in the Chicago bullpen, making 324 appearances and working to a 2.61 ERA from 2014 to 2018, the peak of the Cubs' recent contention window. While I'll always be thankful for what Strop did during that era, it's time to close the book on his tenure and look to the future rather than cling to the past.