OFFICIAL: Mets sign Max Scherzer to 3 year/$130M deal
The New York Mets continued their massive offseason with their biggest signing yet, inking 3-time Cy-Young award winner Max Scherzer to a 3-year deal.
Perhaps the biggest deal of the 2021 MLB off-season thus far is now official: Max Scherzer is a New York Met. In a shocking turn of events, Steve Cohen and the Mets managed to pull off the highly improbable—achieving something nobody thought they could. The Mets were fighting hard to bring Scherzer to Queens, despite reluctance on the part of the 3-time Cy Young Award winner’s willingness to come. Scherzer’s reported desire to remain on the West Coast—paired with the fact that he pitched for the division-rival Nationals for 6 and a half years—had MLB insiders and executives, including ones with the Mets, doubting the likelihood the 37-year-old would sign with New York. This narrative was further elevated by rumblings this past summer that Scherzer would veto a potential trade to the Mets if such a deal were to take place. However, according to Scherzer, it was not that he didn’t want to pitch in New York. It was the Nationals not wanting to trade him to an NL East team when they were shopping him at last year’s Trade Deadline.
Flash forward to Free Agency, and the Mets’ interest in Scherzer piqued once again—and for obvious reasons. However, as recently as a week ago, multiple sources reported that the Mets were “pessimistic” about their chances of signing Scherzer. The general feeling was that any sort of deal would be a longshot. However, the Mets remained determined in their pursuit and were able to shift their position from complete underdogs to clear favorites en route to winning the Scherzer sweepstakes—a true testament to the remarkable offer the team made.
Max Scherzer and Mets owner Steve Cohen during Scherzer’s introductory press conference Wednesday
Well, all I can say is that money talks. And so does Steve Cohen. But I guess those two go hand in hand. The Mets’ offer to Scherzer for three years, $130 million ($43.3M AAV) is by far the largest in MLB history—shattering Gerrit Cole’s previous record of $36 million. The Mets knew they would have to make Scherzer a historic offer if they were going to bring the future Hall-of-Famer to Queens, so they made him the highest-paid player in baseball. How’s that for an offer you can’t refuse?
Although the record-breaking contract was obviously a driving factor in Mad Max’s decision to join the Mets, he said that Cohen’s vision and strong desire to win is ultimately what led to his signing. During his introductory press conference Wednesday, Scherzer talked about the Mets owner’s willingness to spend big in order to create a winning culture that is sustainable. "He looks at this like he wants to win a championship, and he's going to do whatever it takes to win,” said Scherzer. “You don't hear that from owners too often these days." Scherzer is one of the fiercest competitors out there, and it is clear that winning is a top priority for him. Luckily for him, no one wants to win more than Steve Cohen—something Max clearly took note of during negotiations.
In discussing other factors that contributed to his decision to come to New York, Scherzer, who lives in Jupiter, Florida with his wife and two daughters, said that having the Mets’ Spring Training camp near his home was a big plus for him and his family. “Spring training is right in my backyard,” Scherzer said. “You put all those things together and that’s when I said I’m gonna be a New York Met.”
By signing Max Scherzer, the Mets are proving that they are serious about being legitimate World Series contenders in 2022 and the foreseeable future. In doing so, they are also building something historic within their starting rotation. They have managed to pair two of the greatest generational pitchers in Scherzer and Jacob deGrom—making for a historic 1-2 punch and possibly the most dominant one baseball has ever seen. And the craziest part is that both stars are still in their prime and only getting better with age.
Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom at the 2018 MLB All-Star Game at Nationals Park in Washington D.C.
In 2021, Scherzer started 30 games with the Nationals and Dodgers, putting up a 2.46 ERA (the lowest mark of his career) to go along with a 0.86 WHIP and 236 strikeouts in 179.1 innings. He finished third in Cy-Young voting. deGrom, on the other hand, was on pace to have not just the best season of his career, but the greatest pitching season of all time before suffering an elbow injury that would keep him out for the final three months of the season. In 15 starts, deGrom had a ridiculous 1.08 ERA with 146 strikeouts, a 0.55 WHIP and 146 strikeouts. He was going places no pitcher has ever gone before and it was incredible to watch. deGrom has solidified himself as the undisputed best pitcher in baseball since his first Cy-Young campaign in 2018 and will now be joined by Scherzer atop the rotation—a terrifying sight to hitters everywhere. The pair of aces have five Cy-Young awards and twelve All-Star game selections between them. If that wasn’t enough, since 2018, deGrom and Scherzer rank first and second respectively in ERA, FIP, WAR, K/BB, WHIP, Swinging Strike%, and Contact % among qualified pitchers. According to Scherzer, pitching alongside deGrom is a “dream” and also went into his decision to come to New York. “We can do some great things together,” Scherzer said. Mets fans, this is going to be fun to watch.
Since November 24th, when Steve Cohen tweeted his frustrations about failing to sign Steven Matz, the Mets have brought in Eduardo Escobar, Mark Canha, Starling Marte, and now the biggest fish of them all, Max Scherzer. Not only does the Scherzer deal significantly improve New York’s roster and completely change the culture in the clubhouse, it makes Queens a destination that players will actually want to come to, unlike the dysfunctional, constantly disappointing disaster of a franchise they have been for so long. This team is not messing around and I get the sense they’ve still got a few tricks up their sleeve. What’s the biggest lesson learned from all of this? Number one, the New York Mets are a force to be reckoned with, and two, you should NEVER make Steve Cohen angry.
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