Steven Souza, Chicago Cubs close on deal

MLB Rumors: Steven Souza and the Chicago Cubs are close on a one year major league deal, per reports. Souza, 31, missed much of 2018 and all of 2019 due to injuries, and presumably will be in the mix for playing time in the Cubs outfield for 2020.

This deal has potential ramifications for the Texas Rangers. Texas had been mentioned as a team that had interest in Souza, though that would seem to be predicated on Souza showing a willingness to play first base, since Texas is set at DH and the corner outfield spots, and Souza is a corner outfielder.

More significantly, though, this could impact the Rangers pursuit of free agent Nick Castellanos. Castellanos ended the season with the Chicago Cubs after a mid-season trade, and there have been consistent reports of mutual interest between the Cubs and Castellanos, though the Cubs are hamstrung by the lack of available payroll room the front office has to work with. I have speculated that the delay in regards to Castellanos could be because he was waiting to see if the Cubs deal third baseman Kris Bryant, which would free up payroll space that could be used to sign Castellanos.

If the Cubs sign Souza, however, he would join an outfield that already includes Jason Heyward, Albert Almora, Ian Happ, and Kyle Schwarber. With Anthony Rizzo at first base, it would not appear that there would be room in the outfield for Castellanos unless the Cubs moved one of their other outfielders.

This is all speculation on my part, and I certainly could be wrong. But my read is that this helps the chances of Texas landing Castellanos in the near future.