Rich Schultz/Getty ImagesMax Scherzer is on his way to the Texas Rangers after a reported trade with the New York Mets, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.
Jeff Passan @JeffPassanFull details of the trade, per ESPN sources:<br><br>Texas receives Max Scherzer<br><br>New York receives 21-year-old shortstop Luisangel Acuña, the brother of Atlanta star Ronald Acuña Jr. <br><br>Scherzer opts in to 2024.<br><br>The Rangers will pay Scherzer $22.5M. The Mets will cover $35M-plus.
Andy Martino of SNY reported Luisangel Acuña, younger brother of Ronald Acuña Jr., will head to New York as part of the deal. New York will also send cash to the Rangers to help with the pitcher's massive contract.
Scherzer has a $43.3 million salary for 2023 with a $43.3 million player option for 2024, per Spotrac.
According to Passan and Rosenthal, Scherzer already plans to opt in to his deal and stay with the Rangers through next season.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported the two sides agreed to terms earlier Saturday, although there were problems with the player's contract and no-trade clause that seemingly were enough to hold up the deal:
Jon Heyman @JonHeymanScherzer deal to Texas for Luisangel Acuna has hit an impasse. While Scherzer was willing to waive his no-trade he hasn't agreed to turn the 2024 part of his deal from an option for $43.33M into a guarantee for $43.33M. (Wants to retain his optionality).
Jon Heyman @JonHeymanRangers wanted the deal in which they sent top prospect Acuna to guarantee Scherzer through 2024. Max is not required to transform his 2024 player option for $43.33M into a guarantee now, so it's a snag. Mets were willing to pay down deal "significantly"to move Scherzer for Acuna
Feinsand first reported the deal was "on hold for now."
The two sides were waiting on Scherzer to waive his no-trade clause, but Martino reported the pitcher intended to agree to the move, although there were still financials to be worked out. It was first believed that sending the 39-year-old to Texas would be a bit of a tough sell for the star pitcher—with New York being a good place for his family situation.
Heyman reported the inclusion of Acuña in the deal if it went through. According to MLB.com, the 21-year-old is the Rangers' No. 3 prospect.
Scherzer's inclusion in any trade talks came as a bit of surprise considering that Martino reported Friday that between Justin Verlander and Scherzer, the latter was less likely to be moved as teams that had been scouting him were "less than impressed with the quality of his stuff."
Now, he looks well on his way to pitching for one of the top contenders in the American League as the Rangers sit atop a loaded AL West and have the fourth-best record in baseball.
This isn't the first time the Rangers nabbed one of New York's best pitchers, having signed Jacob deGrom to a megacontract this past offseason. But with the 35-year-old superstar undergoing Tommy John surgery, Scherzer fills an immediate need in the rotation and raises Texas' ceiling going into the home stretch of the season.
Scherzer certainly hasn't had a great second year in the Big Apple but is still a major boost Texas. He's gone 9-4 in 19 games with a 4.01 ERA, the highest mark of his career since 2011.
As if the David Robertson deal didn't do it, trading Scherzer symbolizes that the Mets are wide open for business with not much off the table after a difficult first half of the season.
Coming off a 101-win season, New York is fourth in the NL East, 17 games back of the Atlanta Braves and 6.5 games out of a wild-card slot.
ncG1vNJzZmianJqupLTEq6meqJ%2BnwW%2BvzqZmmqqknrCtsdJoaGloaGmBdYOMppixZaOYtaa%2B2Z6pZqqVpbyzwMSdo7JlpKeupbHDZp2rp51iuqbA0marqGWilruosdGsZJ%2BnomK9s7vSqZycrF2hwqq%2FwKeenqRdlrC2usA%3D