What are the chances the Chicago Cubs go after Max Scherzer?

Chicago Cubs: Does the competitive timeline align with a move like this?

Many teams coming off a 71-91 season would not look very appealing to big-time free agents. Especially with a young farm system that is a ways away from coming up the majors and many holes on the MLB roster. However, this is the big market Chicago Cubs.

If the Cubs do indeed practice what they preach and use money and resources to drastically improve the team, then they can make themselves more appealing quickly. Especially if they are offering the money that is desired by the suitor. Scherzer, in terms of talent and experience, would check every box in terms of what this team needs. Last year’s Cubs starting staff was among the very worst in baseball. In fact, they were dead last in fWAR (2.6) and fastball velocity (89.9 MPH) in the National League and second-to-last in K/9.

Scherzer’s electric stuff would immediately make that rotation so much better – simply by introducing a guy with high-velocity and swing-and-miss stuff. Since 2012, Scherzer has struck out 230 hitters or more a season every year outside of the 60-game COVID 2020 campaign. He famously became the 19th pitcher in MLB history to whiff 3,000 hitters in a career back in September. The Cubs have had only one 200+ strikeout pitcher (Yu Darvish in 2019) since 2016.

It is also not like he has had to readjust his game the past few years as he has gotten older either. His average fastball velocity in 2021 was 94.5 MPH while his career average is 94.4 MPH. Add in his slider in 2021 averaged 86 MPH with his career slider average velocity being at 85.7 MPH. Those two pitches have always been his bread and butter.

With all of this being said, is there concern he will keep it up for long? Is shelling out for one starter worth it when the team still might be two years away from legit contention? Giving big money to older guys is always a risk and the Cubs say they want to spend “smartly”. The potential reward for a future Hall of Famer is very high, but each passing year increases the risk.