Max Scherzer
Player Data: Age: 37, B/T: R/R
Traditional Stats: 30 G, 15-4, 179.1 IP, 2.46 ERA, .864 WHIP, 236 SO, 36 BB
Advanced Stats: 5.4 bWAR, 5.2 fWAR, 208 ERA+, 2.90 xERA, 1.96 FIP, 3.24 xFIP, 33.6 K%, 3.0 BB%
Rundown
Max Scherzer: eight-time MLB All-Star, a three-time Cy Young award winner, and a 2019 World Series champion. During the 2021 season, Scherzer was traded at the MLB trade deadline from the Washington Nationals to the Los Angeles Dodgers along with Trea Turner.
After pitching to a 2.76 ERA in 111 innings with the Nationals, Scherzer made his Dodgers debut on August 4 against the Houston Astros, pitching seven innings, giving up two runs and striking out 10 batters, earning the win.
On September 12 at Dodgers Stadium, Scherzer struck out Eric Hosmer in the fifth inning in a contest versus the San Diego Padres to become the 19th pitcher to reach 3,000 strikeouts. In the second inning of the same game, Scherzer achieved his third immaculate inning, tying for the most thrown in a major-league career.
In his first nine starts with the Dodgers, Scherzer allowed five earned runs in 58 innings for a 0.78 ERA. He finished the 2021 season with a 15–4 record and led all qualified pitchers with a 0.86 WHIP across the Dodgers and Nationals.
He started for the Dodgers in the Wild Card Game against the St. Louis Cardinals, pitching 4 1⁄3 innings, while allowing one run on three hits in a game the Dodgers eventually won 3–1 on a walk-off homer.
As the starting pitcher in Game 3 of the NLDS versus the San Francisco Giants, Scherzer completed seven innings in a 1–0 losing effort, allowing only Evan Longoria‘s solo home run in the fifth inning. It was the Dodgers’ first loss with Scherzer on mound. In his next playoff appearance, pitching on two days’ rest, he earned his first major league save on October 14 in Game 5 of the NLDS, to seal a 2–1 series clinching victory.
He started in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves, pitching 4 1⁄3 innings and allowing two runs on four hits while striking out seven. After the game, he mentioned that his arm felt dead and was unable to get properly loose. He was scheduled to start again in Game 6 but was scratched from the game because he was still dealing with arm soreness. As his contract with the Washington Nationals expired, Scherzer became a free agent following the World Series.
This season, Scherzer was named the Sporting News NL Starting Pitcher of the Year, and Players Choice Award winner for NL Outstanding Pitcher. He placed third in the NL Cy Young Award balloting, receiving six first-place votes.
Contract
Scherzer’s previous contract with the Nationals was a seven-year, base salary of $210 million including a $50 million signing bonus and an annual average salary of $30 million. Scherzer was ineligible to receive a qualifying offer as he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the trade deadline.
MLB Trade Rumors (which was nearly spot-on for every free agent the Mets have signed so far) predicted Scherzer’s next deal would be for three years and $120 million.
Recommendation
The Mets have watched Scherzer dominate them for years; he’s 14-5 with a 2.68 ERA against New York, including a 10-2 record and 2.14 ERA at Citi Field so they know precisely what kind of impact he can make.
New York Mets general manager Steve Cohen has the type of wealth to overpay for virtually any big-name free agent he chooses, and the Mets are definitely going to spend a lot of money in the offseason to improve their lineup.
In terms of pitchers, Marcus Stroman is now a free agent and Jacob DeGrom is coming off an injury, the Mets are going to need a dominant pitcher at the peak of his career and Max Scherzer could be one of the best answers for this team.
