Report: Cubs scouted Max Scherzer at throwing session |
The rumor mill is undoubtedly flying out of Chicago now, as the Cubs are starting to be linked to more free agents by the day. This trend took place before the Winter Meetings, but things have been far quieter on their end since the start of the New Year.
Whether any of these rumors are true or not, as with any rumor, there is at least some internal movement from the Cubs front office as they aim to improve this team heading into the regular season. All of the talk now goes back to what Jed Hoyer said at the Cubs convention about this team not being done making moves. Granted, he did say the bullpen and adding third basemen was the primary focus. Still, heading into the Holiday season, Hoyer also said he would love to add another starting pitcher to this rotation. Roki Sasaki was the one that most Cubs fans wanted, but with him off the table, there aren't too many options left. Jack Flaherty remains fit and, from all accounts, would be the perfect addition, but given the Cubs track record with spending, it does seem highly unlikely that they will spend that much money on a free-agent arm. Enter Max Scherzer into the conversation, as Pat Ragazzo has now reported that the Cubs are one of several teams scouting Scherzer ahead of the 2025 season. Talk about a bombshell that no one saw coming. Scherzer is a future Hall of Gamer, and although he is approaching 41 and his best days are well behind him, he would still be a massive addition to this rotation wherever they see him fit. Hearing Scherzer linked to the Cubs wouldn't have been a surprise three seasons ago as he was connected to them as a potential fit heading into the 2023 season, but that never materialized. Here we are two years later, and those talks are happening again, but only this time, the Cubs could be willing to add him for a price they feel comfortable with and on a short-term deal. Not too long ago, Scherzer was arguably the best pitcher in the National League and one of the top five in baseball. Armed with a fastball that averaged 97 and could touch 99, he was the definition of a bulldog, as he went right after anyone he faced. Throw in his 92 MPH change-up and 89 MPH slider, and you never knew what pitch was coming. Even if you knew what was coming, it was tough to hit as he made a living of making batters look silly. You don't win more than 200 games without doing something right, and with a 216-112 career record mixed with a 3.16 ERA, Scherzer has done a lot right. This is also someone who not only strikes out hitters but does so with impeccable command, as he is approaching 3500 strikeouts for his career while walking fewer than 800. Even if his best days are behind him, he could be worth a shot for a one-year deal, as the Cubs could use him in various ways. He is not the pitcher he once was. Scherzer can still rush things up there in the 95-96 MPH range and will touch 97 on occasion. His days of reaching 100 MPH are over, but as long as he can command all three of his go-to pitches, he will still be one of the best arms in the game. Last season was a struggle for him for a variety of reasons, and it could be why he is still on the open market. Known for having back issues throughout his career, Scherzer once again dealt with that last offseason as back surgery forced him to miss most of the first half. Once he returned, he struggled to stay healthy and missed additional time with shoulder soreness and an eventual hamstring injury that limited him to nine starts in 2024. In those nine starts, Scherzer had moments of success and struggles. He finished the season going 2-4 with a 3.95 ERA. He walked 10 compared to 40 punchouts, but the injuries made it hard for him to be the guy he once was. Whether his age has finally caught up to him is another question, but his injury history, especially last season, concerns many teams. There is no question that if healthy, Scherzer would not only be on a roster by now but would have a multi-year deal worth 25-30 million. There is no way he can land a contract like that, especially coming off the season he just had and approaching 41 years of age. At this point, it seems like Scherzer will have to settle for a one-year contract if he hopes to pitch in 2025. Whether that is with the Cubs or not remains to be seen, but for one year at 17-20 million, why not make a run at him? It's the type of contract the Cubs front office has given out in the past, and it could act like the Cody Bellinger deal where if it pans out great, and if not, who cares? This is a recent development to keep tabs on, as things could be getting interesting in Chicago.
