It’s happening: the New York Mets are signing star right-hander Max Scherzer to a three-year, $130 million deal, according to multiple sources.
Jon Heyman first had the two sides closing to a deal on Monday afternoon, and Andy Martino and Jeff Passan reported a deal was done shortly afterwards.
Source: Mets in agreement with Scherzer. Done deal.
— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) November 29, 2021
It’s a record-breaking deal for Scherzer and the Mets.
The $43.3 million AAV (average annual value) is the highest in the history of the game.
Per Passan, Scherzer will have the ability to opt out of the contract after the second year, which would be 2023.
Max Scherzer’s deal with the Mets is done, per source. Three years, $130 million, an opt out after the second season.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 29, 2021
The Mets, who seemed determined to improve their rotation after completing another losing, disappointing season, get the best starter on the market.
They are taking on a significant risk, because Scherzer is 37 years old.
However, he is coming off one of the finest seasons of his career, with a 2.46 ERA in 179.1 innings between the Washington Nationals and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Mets Are Acing Free Agency
The Mets had been busy since Friday, when they signed star center fielder Starling Marte (four years, $78 million), fellow outfielder Mark Canha (two years, $26.5 million) and All-Star infielder Eduardo Escobar (two years, $20 million).
After securing those deals, they had pivoted to the starting pitching market.
However, they were off to a slow start after losing out on Steven Matz at the last minute.
Matz opted to go to St. Louis to play with the Cardinals.
However, the Mets were far from done, and new general manager Billy Eppler, with the blessing of owner Steve Cohen and president Sandy Alderson, had the green light to pursue Scherzer even though he was rumored to prefer the West Coast.
Now, the Mets will pair two future Hall of Famers at the top of their rotation in Jacob deGrom and Scherzer.
Those two will headline a group that also includes Carlos Carrasco, Taijuan Walker, David Peterson, and Tylor Megill.
MLB teams often employ between eight and ten capable starting pitchers these days, so it’s evident that there is still work to be done by the Mets as they shore up their roster.
Getting Scherzer, however, is a huge coup, especially with both Los Angeles teams, the Dodgers and the Angels, still in on the right-hander.
Still At The Top
Scherzer hasn’t lost a step even at his age, and struck out 11.84 hitters per nine innings in 2021.
He put up 5.4 Wins Above Replacement, or WAR, this year, showing there is plenty of gas left in his right arm.
The Mets intend to make a deep postseason run and reach the World Series for the first time since 2015, when they lost to the Kansas City Royals.
One of the most demanding fan bases in baseball, the Mets haven’t won a World Series championship since 1986.
Scherzer will try to revert the situation and take the Mets to the promised land.
It is believed that signing Scherzer won’t stop the Mets from looking at other major free agents.
Lots of players are expected to sign with teams on Monday and Tuesday, before the expected lockout date (Wednesday).
It’s still early in the offseason, but the Mets are already shaping up as big winners judging by their acquisitions so far.
NEXT: Mets Badly Need To Address Starting Pitching During Free Agency
