Inside The Cardinals

Cardinals Sign Son Of Ex-Cubs Hurler From Painful 2015 NLDS To International Deal

St. Louis is letting bygones be bygones
Nate Hagerty|
Sep 9, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Pedro Strop (46) delivers a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images
Sep 9, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Pedro Strop (46) delivers a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images | Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images

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The St. Louis Cardinals aren't having a typical offseason as they have yet to sign any notable free agents this winter but the latest move is rather intriguing.

Although the Cardinals' latest move won't pay dividends for years to come, it'll be interesting when the day arrives that a former Chicago Cubs closing pitcher's son debuts for St. Louis.

"Nearly a decade after his father helped the Chicago Cubs eliminate the Cardinals from the postseason for the first time in that rivalry's history, Pedro Strop's son is poised to be part of the next generation of Cardinals prospects," St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Derrick Goold wrote Wednesday. "Royel Strop, an outfielder, finalized an agreement with the Cardinals on Wednesday, the first day of Major League Baseball's yearlong international amateur signing period. Strop, 16, is a left-handed hitting outfielder with plus speed and projectible power who, of course, grew up around the game and at a ballpark."

Strop's father sacrificed only one earned run on four strikeouts, zero walks and one hit in 2 2/3 innings pitched for the Cubs as their closing pitcher during the 2015 National League Divisional Series -- the Cardinals lost three games to one.

The young Dominican Republic native has a long way to go but scouts believe his bat speed, batting eye and ability to hit line drives will help him reach the big leagues someday.

It's great to see the Cardinals put hard feelings aside from the painful loss to the Cubs in the 2015 NLDS. Hopefully, the last name Strop will one day become a household name in St. Louis.

More MLB: Cardinals Trade Scenario Sends Nolan Arenado To Surprise AL East Contender

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Nate Hagerty
NATE HAGERTY

Nate Hagerty joined “Inside The Cardinals” as a content creator to spread knowledge about his favorite childhood team. A hometown native of Boston, Hagerty chose at an early age of six years old to follow the St. Louis Cardinals. The miraculous season of 04’ for the Red Sox did not deter Hagerty from rooting against his hometown team, nor did it in 2013 against the Red Birds. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding Inside The Cardinals, please reach out to Scott Neville: nevilles@merrimack.edu 

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