CHICAGO — Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer hinted Tuesday afternoon that the team was close to signing a free-agent reliever.
Less than 24 hours later, the Cubs agreed to a deal with right-hander Brandon Workman, according to multiple reports. Workman received a one-year, $1 million contract with $2 million in incentives, MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reported.
The Cubs also are bringing back a fan favorite.
Right-hander Pedro Strop is signing a minor league deal with an invitation to big league camp, according to multiple reports. Strop, 35, was a staple of the bullpen for seven years (2013-19), becoming one of their best relievers in that span with a 2.90 ERA, 1.048 WHIP and 10.3 K/9 rate.
Strop, who sometimes battled command issues, spent 2020 in the Reds organization and appeared in only four major league games (3.86 ERA, six walks, three strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings). As a non-roster invitee, Strop is an intriguing veteran arm but needs to show he can consistently throw strikes and limit walks.
Workman, 32, is a bounce-bank candidate for the Cubs bullpen following a rough 2020.
After spending 5 1/2 seasons with the Red Sox, Boston traded Workman to the Philadelphia Phillies in late August. He became the Phillies’ closer, finishing with five saves, but struggled with consistency. He allowed 10 earned runs in 13 innings (6.92 ERA) with 23 hits, nine walks and 15 strikeouts.
Getting his curveball — his most used pitch — back on track will be key. Opposing hitters feasted on his curve in 2020, hitting .436 with a 1.152 OPS.
A better defense behind Workman also might help with a turnaround. The Cubs defense, which received a National League team Gold Glove Award last year, should help convert more balls in play into outs.
Workman often generated ground balls at a 47.7% rate last season. He will need to reduce hard contact, though, after a career-high 46.2% last year. His previous season high was 37.8% in 2019.
The Cubs are buying into Workman’s stint with the Phillies as a small sample size anomaly in a shortened season with the hope he pitches more like his 2017-19 production with the Red Sox.
He should be a good addition to the clubhouse. Despite Workman’s struggles in Philadelphia, he didn’t shy away from accountability, participating in postgame interviews which could’ve been easy to avoid with reporters not allowed in the clubhouse.
Workman’s addition gives manager David Ross another late-inning option. Ross said Tuesday that Craig Kimbrel will be the Cubs closer, but this move strengthens the back end of the bullpen and is a low-risk, high-upside signing.
