Pedro Strop picked up a save Thursday in the Cubs' 3-2 defeat of the Pirates at Pittsburgh's PNC Park. Strop entered in the bottom of the ninth inning and was able to preserve Chicago's one-run lead after giving up a leadoff single to Pirates second baseman Neil Walker. Jose Veras threw 38 pitches in a blown save Wednesday, so he was unavailable for this one. Veras remains the Cubs' closer, but Strop is a good guy to stash in mixed and NL-only fantasy leagues.

Pedro Strop pitched a perfect eighth in Wednesday's 7-5 loss to the Rockies. Strop retired the Rockies in rapid-fire succession on three ground outs. The right-hander, acquired from the Orioles in July last season, is vying for save opportunities along with Jose Veras and Hector Rondon.

Cubs avoided arbitration with RHP Pedro Strop by agreeing to a one-year contract. Terms of the deal have not yet been disclosed. The 28-year-old right-hander will compete with Jose Veras and Hector Rondon for save chances in 2014.

Cubs pitching coach Chris Bosio suggested Pedro Strop and Hector Rondon could compete for the closer's job. The 28-year-old Strop has always had top-shelf stuff and posted a 2.83 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 42/11 K/BB ratio with the Cubs after coming over in a mid-season trade. He should be considered the favorite for the job, but the Cubs figure to be an appealing destination for relief pitchers available via free agency. "We need more pitching," he said. "And as soon as we acquire four or five guys, we're going to need more after that. . We need arms. We've got to find or develop those arms, and if you're not signing them, you better develop them. And if you can't develop them, then Theo and Jed (Hoyer) and everyone are trying to do the next best thing, which is to acquire them."

Cubs team president Theo Epstein indicated over the weekend that they have "guys that could close" already on the roster, likely referring to Pedro Strop. Of course Epstein also noted that having a closer vacancy could make the Cubs an appealing destination for relief pitchers available via free agency. The 28-year-old Strop has always had top-shelf stuff and posted a 2.83 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 42/11 K/BB ratio with the Cubs after coming over in a mid-season trade. He makes for a very interesting sleeper candidate in early mixed league drafts.

Pedro Strop earned his first save of the season Saturday in the Cubs' victory versus the Braves. Strop struck out all three batters he faced in the top of the ninth inning. He is finishing the season as the Cubs' closer with Kevin Gregg relegated to setup duty.

Pedro Strop will serve as the Cubs' closer for the remainder of the 2013 regular season. Kevin Gregg will operate in a setup role. "It's going to be an opportunity [for Strop]," manager Dale Sveum said Thursday. "We want to see what he does in that role. Kevin [Gregg] has been one of the better closers in all of baseball. God knows where we'd be without him."

Cubs manager Dale Sveum said Pedro Strop could be used in save situations this month. Kevin Gregg is the incumbent, but there's almost no chance that Chicago intends to enter Spring Training next spring with the unreliable veteran pegged for the ninth inning. "I don't think you'll have any idea at the end of this season about what's going to happen," Sveum said. "So many things go into play there and it's a long offseason. Certain things come up. There's no way you can predict or plan what's going to happen by Spring Training next year." Strop looked lost earlier this season in Baltimore, but he's produced a sparkling 2.19 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in 26 appearances with the Cubs since coming over in the Scott Feldman trade.

Pedro Strop was charged with five runs in the ninth Monday and took a loss to the Brewers. It wasn't all Strop's fault -- a fielder's choice was mixed in and two of the runs came around to score after he departed -- but it was definitely his first bad day as a Cub after 10 2/3 scoreless innings to start his tenure with the team. Unless he compounds with another poor performance next time out, it shouldn't have any effect on his status as the closer-in-waiting.

Cubs manager Dale Sveum said Saturday that Pedro Strop would be "one of the higher candidates" to close if Kevin Gregg is traded. Sveum indicated before Strop's arrival that Blake Parker might be next in line for saves after Gregg, but it appears that Strop has passed him up. The former Oriole has eight strikeouts over 6 2/3 scoreless innings since arriving in Chicago. "He's obviously one of the higher candidates just because he's pitched in high-profile games already in the big leagues," said Sveum. "He's got the stuff, he's got the velocity. He's got a strike slider, he's got a wipeout slider. . He has a good time on the mound. He's not scared of anything. Those are the kind of guys you want out there."