Chicago Cubs: 5 realistic pitchers to target in free agency

Chicago Cubs: 5 Pitchers to Target in Free Agency – #1: Max Scherzer

Landing at #1, Max Scherzer. If the Cubs want a tank and an ace’s ace, here he is. Another 14-year vet along with Kershaw, Scherzer posts a career 3.19 ERA and seems to get better as time goes on. He has consistently had a season ERA of under 3.00 since 2016, except for 2020 which was a shortened 60-game season.

Sitting at 2,941 career strikeouts, Scherzer should be a lock to reach 3,000 this year. Had it not been for the pandemic, he more than likely would have achieved the milestone last season. Also a three-time Cy Young award winner and an eight-time All-Star, Scherzer is among the greats of all time. For a 162-game season, his career average is 214 innings of work. The man is an absolute work horse and they don’t make them like this anymore.

Needless to say, if the Cubs really want to make a splash and go big this offseason like all signs could be pointing to, Scherzer should be penciled in at #1 due to his durability and ability to consistently get deep into games.  Scherzer alone makes his team have a higher chance to make the playoffs. Picking up at least two of the starters on this list, with Kyle Hendricks already in tow, can drastically help improve this team’s chances of making a deep run into October.