SAN DIEGO (AP) — In a move to fortify their position, the Texas Rangers have made a bold decision by acquiring Max Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, from the New York Mets. The surprising trade was announced on Sunday, arriving just in time to counter the setback of placing their ace, Nathan Eovaldi, on the 15-day injured list due to a strained right forearm.
The Rangers, currently leading the AL West, were facing challenges as they experienced a rough stretch with six losses in eight games, causing their lead over the second-place Houston to shrink to just one game. However, with the addition of Scherzer, they are hoping to regain momentum and maintain their position at the top.
Continuing their active approach, the Texas Rangers made further notable moves. Alongside acquiring Max Scherzer, they also secured left-handed starter Jordan Montgomery, right-handed reliever Chris Stratton, and additional international bonus pool money from the St. Louis Cardinals. In exchange for these assets, the Rangers sent left-hander John King, minor league infielder Tommy Saggese, and minor league right-hander T.K. Roby to the Cardinals. These strategic trades demonstrate the Rangers’ commitment to strengthening their roster and making a strong push for success.
According to Texas manager Bruce Bochy, Max Scherzer is set to make his debut for the Rangers on Thursday as they face the Chicago White Sox at home. Bochy expressed his enthusiasm, stating that they are thrilled to have an experienced player with an impressive track record joining their team. The acquisition of Scherzer sends a clear message to the players ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline: the Rangers are serious about winning and are determined to make a strong push towards success.
Rangers general manager Chris Young, who is a former big league pitcher himself, shared in the excitement of the trade and is looking forward to seeing Scherzer in action with the team. The Rangers’ recent moves demonstrate their commitment to improving their roster and competing at the highest level.
Texas Rangers general manager Chris Young expressed his excitement over the acquisition of Max Scherzer, praising the future Hall of Fame pitcher for his winning track record and pedigree, which fits perfectly with the team’s needs at the moment. Young emphasized the importance of quality starting pitching and believes that adding a player of Scherzer’s caliber will greatly benefit the team, helping them achieve their goals for this season.
Under Bruce Bochy’s leadership in his first season as manager, the Rangers have risen from six consecutive losing seasons to lead the AL West for almost the entire season. Bochy, who won three World Series championships with the San Francisco Giants from 2010-2014, is optimistic about the team’s potential.
Though Nathan Eovaldi, an All-Star and World Series champion with the Boston Red Sox in 2018, hopes to return from the injured list within 15 days, he expressed his happiness about Scherzer’s addition to the team. Eovaldi recognizes the significance of Scherzer’s experience and accomplishments, both on and off the field. He believes that having someone of Scherzer’s caliber will provide invaluable support to the team’s rotation and boost their chances, not only for this year but also in future postseason endeavors.
Joining Nathan Eovaldi on the injured list are two other Rangers All-Stars, catcher Jonah Heim and shortstop Corey Seager. In the trade that sent Max Scherzer to the Rangers, the Mets received one of Texas’ top prospects, infielder Luisangel Acuña, who happens to be the younger brother of Atlanta star Ronald Acuña Jr. The Mets have decided to option Luisangel Acuña to Double-A Binghamton.
To complete the deal, Scherzer waived his no-trade clause, and the Mets also agreed to send cash to Texas. Additionally, Scherzer has opted in on the final year of his contract in 2024 at a value of $43.3 million. Reports indicate that the Mets will cover around $35 million of the remaining $58 million on Scherzer’s contract.
At the age of 39, Scherzer will now be playing alongside another former Mets ace in Texas, Jacob deGrom. However, deGrom recently underwent Tommy John surgery, which could keep him out of action until the end of next season.
Before the trade, Scherzer had a record of 9-4 with the Mets, leading the team in wins. Nevertheless, he had his highest ERA (4.01) since 2011, during his time with the Detroit Tigers. In his last start for the Mets, Scherzer pitched impressively, allowing only one run over seven innings in a 5-1 victory against Washington.
With 210 career wins, Max Scherzer ranks third among active pitchers, trailing behind Justin Verlander and Zack Greinke in terms of career victories.
The Mets, who had high expectations but have been a major disappointment this season, made the decision to trade Scherzer shortly after sending closer David Robertson to the Miami Marlins in exchange for two minor league players on Thursday night.
At the beginning of the season, the Mets had the highest payroll in baseball, an astounding $355 million. However, their performance has not lived up to expectations, as they currently sit 18 games behind the first-place Atlanta Braves in the NL East and are seven games back in the wild-card race, with numerous teams ahead of them.
General Manager Billy Eppler expressed frustration with the team’s inability to find consistency throughout the season, leading to the decision to make significant changes, including trading Scherzer.
As for Justin Verlander, another three-time Cy Young Award winner, he is also signed through the next season. Given his impressive career and recent milestone of achieving his 250th career win against the Washington Nationals, there is expected to be considerable interest from other teams in acquiring the 40-year-old right-hander.
During the trading season in June, the Texas Rangers made a significant move by acquiring Aroldis Chapman, a once-dominant closer, from the Kansas City Royals. However, since joining the Rangers, Chapman has been utilized in a setup role, while Will Smith has taken on most of the closing duties.
Now, Texas has further strengthened its roster by adding Max Scherzer to their rotation. In the recent trade, the Rangers sent top prospect infielder Luisangel Acuña to the New York Mets. Acuña, who is only 21 years old, has showcased impressive skills in Double-A Frisco, batting .315 with seven home runs, 51 RBIs, and an .830 OPS over 84 games. Additionally, he led the Texas League in stolen bases (42) and runs scored (68) while also contributing 25 doubles.
Luisangel Acuña was highly regarded within the Rangers’ farm system, being ranked as the third-best prospect within the organization and holding the No. 44 overall spot among all prospects in the majors, according to MLB Pipeline. His talent and potential made him a valuable asset, and his inclusion in the trade highlights the Rangers’ determination to enhance their roster for the future.