AP Source: Cubs, Strop avoid arbitration with 1-year deal
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CHICAGO (AP) A person familiar with the situation says the World Series champion Chicago Cubs and reliever Pedro Strop have agreed to a $5.5 million, one-year contract.
The person, confirming reports by several outlets, spoke Saturday on the condition of anonymity because the deal has not been announced.
Strop had asked for $6 million in arbitration with the team offering $4.6 million. The agreement continues a streak for president of baseball operations Theo Epstein, who has never taken a player to an arbitration hearing with Chicago or Boston.
Strop was 2-2 with a 2.85 ERA in 54 appearances last season. He came to the Cubs with 2015 NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta from Baltimore in 2013 - a trade that helped the franchise end a 108-year championship drought in 2016.
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