CUBS, WHITE SOX NOTES
The Cubs stabilized their bullpen and leadership Thursday, exercising their $6.25 million option on right-hander Pedro Strop.
Strop, 33, had one of the most dominant seasons of his 10-year career in 2018, posting a 2.26 ERA with 13 saves and 57 strikeouts in 59
Strop picked up the slack in the second half after Brandon Morrow was sidelined with a bone bruise in his right pitching elbow. Strop posted a 1.77 ERA with 11 saves in 20 games after the All-Star break before suffering a torn left hamstring Sept. 13. He returned to pitch a scoreless inning in the National League wild-card game.
Strop has a 2.63 ERA in 361 appearances in six seasons with the Cubs and has served as a mentor to many younger teammates, including prized infielder Javier Baez. Strop’s 2.63 ERA trails only Bruce Sutter (2.39) among all-time Cubs relievers with at least 100 appearances, and he has limited opponents to a .181 average and .276 slugging percentage.
The Cubs face a 4 p.m. Friday deadline on whether to pick up the $20 million option on left-hander Cole Hamels. They could elect not to pick up the option, which would result in the Rangers — Hamels’ former team — paying him a $6 million buyout. Hamels turns 35 next month.
The Cubs also claimed outfielder Johnny Field off waivers from the Twins. Field, 26, batted .222 with nine home runs and 21 RBIs in 83 games with the Rays and Twins in 2018.
Banuelos, 27, once regarded as a top prospect in the Yankees organization, was 9-7 with a 3.73 ERA with 127 strikeouts in 108
In 10 minor-league seasons, Banuelos is 41-42 with a 3.56 ERA and 774 strikeouts in 787 innings. He also spent time in the Braves, Angels and Dodgers organizations.
Yurchak, 22, batted .256 with one home run and 36 RBIs over 95 games last season with Class A Kannapolis.
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