Cubs Scouts Were Present at Recent Max Scherzer Showcase

The Cubs would like to add another starter, preferably one who brings a strong veteran presence with a relatively low price tag. If he happens to have heterochromia, well, even better. Enter Max Scherzer, who recently threw for teams as part of a pro day at Cressey Sports Performance. The Cubs were among teams with scouts at the showcase according to a report from Pat Ragazzo, who also listed the Mets, Yankees, Dodgers, Blue Jays, Phillies, Braves, and Red Sox as being in attendance.

Toronto has been mentioned elsewhere of late and Ragazzo added that the Mets are interested in a reunion on a one-year deal. Scherzer will turn 41 in July and only pitched 43.1 innings over nine starts for the Rangers last year, but he put up a 3.95 ERA despite depressed strikeout numbers and flagging velocity. We should contextualize that a little further because he was never a huge velo guy despite what his reputation might have you thinking.

He topped out in 2019 at 94.9 mph, which was good at the time and now looks downright pedestrian. His 92.5 mph fastball with Texas last season was only in the 26th percentile, though it still had the same run as in previous years. Getting a fully healthy Scherzer for a full season at a reasonable cost would be a really nice addition for a team that needs rotation depth.

The question for both the Cubs and Scherzer is whether the fit makes sense. Some of the other teams in the mix are probably willing to pay a little more than the budget-conscious North Siders, especially when the bullpen is a higher priority right now. While I certainly wouldn’t rule out the addition of a starter, it feels more and more like Jed Hoyer will be content to roll with what he’s got until the trade deadline. Rotation depth is a war of attrition, and the Cubs may believe they can battle to at least a stalemate for the first half.