Strop, Cubs agree to one-year deal

All are in the fold.

The Cubs and their last remaining arbitration-eligible player, reliever Pedro Strop, have agreed to terms. Strop and the Cubs agreed to a one-year contract worth $2.525 million.

The 29-year-old right-hander had been seeking $3 million while the Cubs were offering $2 million.

Last season, Strop worked mostly as a setup man, going 2-4 with a 2.21 ERA and a WHIP of 1.07. He also had 2 saves.

In 65 games, Strop struck out 71 in 61 innings pitched.

They're invited:

The Cubs have invited 19 players to spring training as nonroster players. Included are prospects Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, Albert Almora, Addison Russell, C.J. Edwards and Pierce Johnson.

Cubs pitchers and catchers report for spring training Feb. 19 in Mesa, Ariz., with position players reporting Feb. 24. Many position players likely will be in camp early.

All eyes will be on third baseman Bryant, the Cubs' top prospect and the consensus minor-league player of the year for last season. It's unlikely Bryant will make the opening-day roster, but with a good spring and a solid start at Class AAA Iowa, he could be up before May.

Schwarber, the Cubs' top pick last June, will go to camp as a nonroster catcher as will veteran Taylor Teagarden, who has 172 games of big-league experience with the Rangers, Orioles and Mets.

Infielder Chris Valaika, who saw action in 44 games with the Cubs last season, is back as a nonroster man. Other notable veterans include pitcher Daniel Bard and outfielders Mike Baxter and Adron Chambers.

Among those seeing action for the Cubs last year after going to spring training as nonroster men were John Baker, Emilio Bonifacio, Chris Coghlan, Ryan Kalish, Brian Schlitter, Tsoyoshi Wada and prospect Javier Baez.