SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The only thing certain about the Cubs’ final bench decision is that outfielder Matt Szczur is not going to the minors. He’s out of minor-league options, and if he’s not traded before the opener a week from Sunday, he would likely get the Cub roster spot over infielder Tommy La Stella (who has options left).
How actively the Cubs are shopping Szczur is unclear. The outfield is crowded, and La Stella is a lefty hitter.
The Twins and Braves are among teams with strong interest if the Cubs are serious about trading him. One American League source said the Cubs are “listening” on the versatile outfielder.
“I love Matt,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said Saturday before the Cubs played a pair of split-squad games — beating the Reds 11-7 in Las Vegas and losing to the Rockies 7-4 in Scottsdale, Ariz.
“Listen, this guy as a teammate, you’re not gonna get a better one – and nobody’s gonna get a better one on any team, for any reason,” Maddon said. “We haven’t decided everything or anything yet. Stuff happens in a very short period of time. He is a Major League Baseball player.”
The Cubs won’t let La Stella’s behavior last year — when he refused to report to the minors for three weeks — influence their willingness to send him down.
“When you get this kind of talent, depth-wise, it’s a wonderful problem to have,” Maddon said. “And then, of course, the rules start creeping in. The rules, in this situation, would benefit Matt, which is a good thing.”
Hendricks mortal
In Las Vegas, Kyle Hendricks pitched three scoreless innings but issued four walks – his first walks in five starts this spring. Joey Votto drew two of the walks, including one on a call Hendricks disagreed with.
“Votto always walks. He’s just the toughest at-bat that I have,” Hendricks said. “It’s the funnest at-bat I have, too, just the cat-and-mouse, the kind of chess game with him.”
Hendricks also blamed a beat reporter for a worldwide sports website for the no-walks streak after his last start. “It’s on him,” Hendricks said, laughing.
Home cooking
Las Vegas native Kris Bryant doubled down the left field line in his first at-bat and later hit his annual Vegas exhibition home run – the ball sailing over the left-center wall almost exactly as Hendricks, talking in the hallway outside the clubhouse, “complained” to media that it was the first time Bryant hadn’t homered in a Vegas start for him.
“What’s the deal? No home run?” Hendricks said a few moments later, when Bryant headed to clubhouse, done for the day.
“I just hit one,” Bryant said, then casually headed into the clubhouse.
Almora quick return
Center fielder Albert Almora still felt a little soreness Saturday morning after a slight “whiplash” effect on a diving play forced him from Friday’s game.
But a quick trip to the trainer’s room, and Almora “felt great.” He played most of Saturday’s game in Vegas, batting four times.
On deck
Split squad: Cubs vs. Reds, Las Vegas, 3:05 p.m., Ch. 9, 670-AM, Eddie Butler vs. Tim Adleman; Padres at Cubs, Mesa, 3:05 p.m., cubs.com audio, Trevor Cahill vs. Alec Mills.
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