Chicago Cubs Rumors: Outfielder Matt Szczur on His Way to the Braves?
Chicago Cubs outfielder Matt Szczur may soon be on the move.
The Chicago Cubs have the best collection of position players in all of baseball. They are loaded with talent across the diamond and have some nice depth behind their stars as well. On top of that, guys like Javier Baez, Ben Zobrist and Kris Bryant provide ridiculous position versatility that gives Joe Maddon seemingly unlimited options on a daily basis.
With all of this flexibility, the Cubs could easily go into the 2017 season with 13 pitchers on their 25-man roster. However, this would mean eliminating a valuable bench player from the mix. Basically, it looks like the Cubs will have to decide between infielder Tommy La Stella and outfielder Matt Szczur.
La Stella’s left-handed bat gives him an edge, but Szczur is a strong depth player who brings a lot to the table. He plays above average defense in the outfield and can handle all three positions. Szczur can also provide some production with the bat, as he hit .259/.312/.400 in 185 at-bats last season.
Szczur is a hard-working player who is a nice guy to have around, but he may not be good enough for this Cubs’ roster. He was left off of the roster during the post-season run last year, seemingly being replaced by Albert Almora, who is taking on a more full-time role this season. The Cubs are loaded with talent, but Szczur is a major league caliber player, losing him for nothing would be a bummer.
Well, maybe Theo Epstein and company are shopping Szczur instead of risking losing him for nothing. Ken Rosenthal mentions the Atlanta Braves specifically having interest in acquiring Szczur.
Sources: #Cubs’ Matt Szczur among trade candidates #Braves considering for extra OFer. Szczur out of options; Cubs expected to keep him.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 21, 2017
The Braves taking a shot on Szczur would make a ton of sense. They are not in a position to compete any time soon and would be wise to give Szczur a shot to prove himself. He is already a solid bench player, but maybe Szczur can grow into a strong every day player. What do the Braves have to lose in order to give him a shot?
On the Cubs’ side of things, the Braves are a strong fit because of their deep pool of pitching prospects. They would not get a top-tier prospect, but I could see the Cubs landing a solid relief pitcher who could compete at the major league level soon.
Next: Predicting Cubs' Opening Day 25-Man Roster
If Szczur does not make the opening day roster, he will have to be placed on waivers where the Cubs will lose him for nothing. Shopping him on the open market would be a strong move and the Braves are a team that certainly makes sense.