Max Scherzer is heading back to the East Coast. Reports surfaced late Sunday and early Monday the pitching ace is in the process of finalizing a record three-year deal with the New York Mets.
Max Scherzer and the Mets are finalizing $130M, 3-year deal. Minor details to go only.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 29, 2021
If Max Scherzer’s deal gets done as the Mets expect, the average annual value will be somewhere in the range of $43 million a year — a staggering jump of nearly 20% from the current record AAV of $36 million held by Gerrit Cole. It is a huge number, especially for a 37-year-old.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 29, 2021
The deal was confirmed by SNY's Andy Martino.
Source: 3 years, $130 mil, opt out after two years.
— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) November 29, 2021
The three-time Cy Young Award-winner went 15-4 over his 2021 campaign, which was split between the Washington Nationals and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Scherzer went undefeated after being traded to the Dodgers midseason and ended his stint in Southern California with a 1.98 ERA over 68.1 innings pitched.
Scherzer's departure is just one exit the Dodgers have to grapple with this offseason, as other big guns are nearing the ends of their contracts and looking to play elsewhere.
Possible Dodgers could lose both Max Scherzer and Corey Seager. Rangers remain in mix for Seager, sources tell @TheAthletic. Already have reached agreements today with Marcus Semien, Kole Calhoun and Jon Gray. Trevor Story also possible if Rangers cannot get Seager.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 29, 2021
The reported deal would pay Scherzer an astounding $43.3 million per year, making him the highest-paid player in MLB history in terms of annual average value.
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