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It might not work. It might be too early.
After all, Max Scherzer leaving the Nationals mid-season for the Mets would be like Elaine Benes dropping Jerry for Newman.
Hell, though, the Mets owe it to themselves to give it a try. Because is there a more tantalizing picture right now than Jacob deGrom starting a series opener in October and Scherzer entering Game 2?
The Mets should therefore offer the Nats any player who is not currently on their major league roster. They should offer Scherzer, the impending free agent, an extension in exchange for their membership. They should see Washington’s recent fall as the next opportunity to change the culture of their organization.
Scherzer, who turns 37 on Tuesday, closes his seven-year, $ 210 million contract with characteristic gusto. Don’t blame him for the Nationals’ problems. He’s got a 2.83 ERA in 18 starts totaling 103 innings, with 142 strikeouts versus 25 walks, and a look under the hood (at exit speeds and the like) largely asserts his excellence in 2021, even if he also shows that he is no longer the dynamo that won the Cy Young awards of the National League 2016 and 2017 for the Nationals. He missed his last start with right tricep discomfort, but is expected to start later this week.
Take his current value and add his past playoff experience, and there is no other player in this commercial market who can do the same 1) energize the Mets clubhouse; 2) ignite their fan base; and 3) help the Mets achieve their goal of winning it all.
For that, yes, I would swap one of Francisco Alvarez, or Brett Baty, or Ronny Mauricio for the front page of a package, an indication of how serious the Mets are to the Nationals, who are not a natural trading partner being given the residence of the two clubs in the East of NL.
Mets general manager Zack Scott, when asked about intra-division transactions on Monday, said: “I have no issues to deal with within our division. … There are times, I had experiences in my past, where I saw teams within the same division having a tax in the division associated with the trade. It is not clear if this is the case now. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was for some players. I don’t think we should be afraid to do things that improve our club.
You would expect the Nats to impose such a tax on the Mets, given that Washington will almost certainly not consider a full teardown. The Mets should be prepared to pay him as long as it’s not outrageous (which would be a demand for two of the top three prospects).
Then there’s Scherzer himself, who controls his destiny thanks to his 10 and 5 rights (10 years in the big leagues, at least five with his current squad) and might not want to jeopardize his bond with the Nats and their fans by reporting to Citi Field.
“It’s a variable that can sometimes complicate things,” Scott said in general of protection without trade. “For any player who has no trade protection this is an issue we need to be mindful of, it could be a challenge. In some cases, you don’t have to go too far before you know they just aren’t going to give it up, so we don’t spend a lot of time on it.
It would be surprising if Scherzer and his agent Scott Boras would have a conversation with Scott and his bosses Steve Cohen and Sandy Alderson, if only to make introductions and gather information for this upcoming offseason. If the right-hander is open to conversations about an overtime, then the Mets – with Marcus Stroman and Noah Syndergaard dropping off the books – should be offering one for a short term (two years?) And a hefty salary ($ 35 million). per year?).
The Mets should pull out all the stops because they have a team capable of winning the World Series now and a group of guys who have been through a storm of injuries to earn a second ace award. With Stroman a free agent this winter and deGrom’s multiple injury roster continuing to raise concerns about his long-term viability, the stars might not line up in the same way next season.
That’s right, the Mets should use their maximum effort to try and land Scherzer.
(Sorry.)
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