Cincinnati Reds: Predicting the 2020 bullpen after adding Pedro Strop

The Cincinnati Reds signed veteran reliever Pedro Strop to a one-year deal on Thursday. How might the bullpen shake out following Strop’s addition?

On Thursday afternoon, the Cincinnati Reds came to terms on a one-year deal with former Chicago Cubs reliever Pedro Strop. The right-hander is a solid addition to a Cincinnati bullpen that finished seventh in the National League in ERA (4.28) last season. While 2019 was one of Strop’s worst seasons, for his career, the right-hander has a 3.21 ERA.

A native of the Dominican Republic, Strop began his major league career with the Texas Rangers in 2009. After two-plus seasons in the Lone Star State, Strop was traded from the Rangers to the Baltimore Orioles in the trade for Mike Gonzalez. Strop found his way to Chicago in 2013, after he Jake Arrieta were sent to the Windy City in exchange for Scott Feldman and Steve Clevenger.

Pedro Strop had some of his best seasons playing on the North Side of Chicago. In seven seasons with the Cubbies, Strop amassed a record of 21-24 with a 2.90 ERA in 411 appearances out of the bullpen. Until last season, Strop hadn’t seen his ERA above 3.00 while playing for the Cubs. In 2019, Strop’s ERA soared to 4.97 – his worst since 2010.

As Reds fans know all too well, walks will haunt, and that’s exactly what happened to Strop in 2019. His 11.2% walk-rate was the highest it had been since his time in Baltimore. If Strop can get back to the player he was, this could be a very valuable signing for Cincinnati. But, who else is going to make the cut and begin the 2020 season in the Reds bullpen?