Morrow headlines Cubs’ 21 non-roster invitees
Twelve pitchers, including former Cubs closer Brandon Morrow, are among 21 nonroster players the Cubs have invited to spring training, which opens next week.
Morrow, the once-dominant right-hander, hasn’t pitched since before the All-Star break in 2018 because of injuries, but he has been healthy this winter and offered to return on a minor-league contract. Morrow, who made $21 million on a two-year deal through 2019, will make $1 million in base salary if he stays healthy enough to make the Opening Day roster.
Other non-roster right-handers invited to camp: Jason Adam, Oscar de la Cruz, Dakota Mekkes, Caleb Simpson, Brock Stewart and Ben Taylor. Non-roster lefties: Rex Brothers (back for a second try with the Cubs), Danny Hultzen, Tyler Olson, C.D. Pelham and Wyatt Short.
Nine non-roster hitters also were invited to camp: infielders Carlos Asuaje, Trent Giambrone, Corban Joseph and Hernan Perez; outfielders Noel Cuevas and Ian Miller; and catchers P.J. Higgins, Jhonny Pereda and Josh Phegley.
Pitchers and catchers report Tuesday.
Reds sign ex-Cubs reliever Strop
The Reds completed a one-year, $1,825,000 contract with right-hander Pedro Strop, their first move to upgrade the bullpen in an offseason focused on offense.
Strop, 34, was part of the Cubs’ bullpen the last six years. A hamstring injury limited him to 50 appearances last season, when he went 2-5 with a 4.97 ERA, 10 saves and six blown saves.
Strop had a rough middle of the season after returning from the injury. He went 1-1 with four blown saves in July and 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA and one save in August. He finished strong, putting up a 2.00 ERA in 11 appearances in September.
Yankees’ Paxton (back) out 3-4 months
Yankees starting pitcher James Paxton is expected to miss three to four months after having back surgery. The Yankees announced that Paxton underwent a microscopic lumbar discectomy and had a peridiscal cyst removed.
Paxton, 31, went 15-6 with a 3.82 ERA in 29 starts last season, his first with the Yankees. He is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2020 season.
Rose asks for reinstatement again
Pete Rose again asked MLB to end his lifetime ban, saying the penalty is unfair compared with discipline for steroids use and electronic sign stealing.
Rose referenced commissioner Rob Manfred’s decision Jan. 13 to suspend Astros manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow for one season for their role in the team’s use of electronics to steal catchers’ signs in 2017 and 2018 but to not discipline players.
Rose also cited the joint drug agreement between MLB and the players association, which calls for 80-game suspensions for first offenders for performance-enhancing drugs, 162-game bans for second offenders and lifetime bans for third penalties with a chance for reinstatement.
This and that
The Braves defeated right-hander Shane Greene in salary arbitration, and the reliever will be paid $6.25 million instead of his request for $6.75 million.
♦ Ubaldo Jimenez, who hasn’t pitched since 2017, received a non-roster invitation to spring training by the Rockies.