The Cubs are re-signing right-hander Ryan Tepera to a one-year deal, according to a source. The deal is worth $800,000, pending a physical.
Tepera was a big piece of the Cubs’ bullpen in 2020, and after Jeremy Jeffress, he may have been the team’s best reliever during the shortened season. The right-hander was 0-1 with a 3.92 ERA with a career-high 34.8% strikeout rate.
“I think Ryan Tepera last year did a really good job for us of coming in and pitching some really big innings,” manager David Ross said. “I thought he bridged the gap to the back end [of the bullpen] really well. That sixth, seventh [inning] spot where maybe [Rowan] Wick was used the day before, or you know, there’s so many pieces to that bullpen down there. He was a significant piece for us last year that kind of came in and got us out a big spot and was able to handle the moment.”
Cubs add Strumpf, Weber to spring roster
The Cubs added infield prospects Chase Strumpf and Andy Weber as non-roster invites on Friday. Strumpf hit .244 with three homers and 17 RBIs over three levels during his first year in pro ball in 2019. The 21-year-old infielder is the team’s ninth-ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline and was the Cubs’ second-round pick out of UCLA in the 2019 MLB Draft.
