MESA, Ariz. — Right-hander Brandon Workman reportedly agreed to a one-year, $1 million contract with the Cubs.
Workman was one of MLB’s top relievers in 2019, going 10-1 with a 1.88 ERA in 73 appearances with the Red Sox. The 32-year-old right-hander struggled in 2020 with a 5.95 ERA in 21 games with the Red Sox and Phillies.
Also, reliever Pedro Strop reportedly agreed to a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training to return to the Cubs.
Strop could make $800,000 if he makes the team.
Strop, one of the most consistent relievers in baseball from 2013 to ’19, was 21-24 with a 2.90 ERA in seven seasons with the Cubs and was a key contributor to their 2016 World Series championship run.
He was with the Cubs during the 2020 season at the team’s alternate site, but with his velocity never rising to normal levels, he never made an appearance.
Wick’s injury caused by oblique setback
Manager David Ross confirmed Wednesday that Rowan Wick’s intercostal injury is related to the left oblique strain that kept him out of the 2020 postseason after he was shut down in September. Wick is expected to be a key member in the back of the Cubs’ bullpen, but will start slow this spring.
“It was feeling better and then [he] started throwing. It’s still just a little bit uncomfortable,” Ross said. “They want the full range of motion and [all the discomfort] to go away. The offseason, usually, you’re a little more cautious than something maybe in season and so we’ll see how it plays out.
“There’s zero reason to rush anything right now and we want that guy to be healthy as we want everybody to be healthy, but especially those bullpen guys. It’s a taxing job and we want those guys to be 100%. Especially when they throw as hard as [Rowan] does.”
Wick was 0-1 with a 3.12 ERA and four saves in 19 games last season.
Ryan goes on COVID-19 list
The Cubs put left-hander Kyle Ryan on the COVID-19 list Wednesday. President Jed Hoyer said Ryan will have a delayed start to the season. Ryan went 1-0 with a 5.17 ERA in 18 games in 2020.
