Chicago Cubs: 5 bold moves to turn the team into World Series contenders

Chicago Cubs: On a short deal, Max Scherzer could make a lot of sense

While it wouldn’t be quite the same in terms of the number of years or as the kind of harbinger the signing of Jon Lester was in late 2014, going after and ultimately signing Max Scherzer would be a coup for the Cubs and show other free agents and the league that this was, indeed, a retool for 2022.

Still at the top of his game as evidenced by his elite performance since heading to the west coast, Scherzer is the kind of guy who probably has two more good years left in the tank, even though his age would give an organization pause with just about anyone else. At 37 years old, most pitchers have long since retired, but Scherzer is a rare breed and Mad Max is the kind of bulldog you wand anchoring your staff. With Scherzer and Kyle Hendricks at the top, that would be a formidable opening to any possible postseason series they’d play next fall.

Can I selfishly say that I’m hoping Scherzer struggles just a tad this fall so that maybe it’ll scare off a few teams who may not want to bid on an old pitcher? Just enough so we don’t have to pay through the roof at least?  Scherzer is going to cost some money, but it’s doubtful at his age that he can command anything close to the $35 million plus he’s been making the last couple years. If the Cubs could slice that number anywhere closer to the low $20 million range, I wouldn’t be opposed to a two-year deal for a guy who can still bring it.