The Rangers’ hopes for a first American League West title since 2015 received a massive boost on Saturday as the organization acquired star hurler Max Scherzer from the Mets, per reports.
Sitting just one game ahead of the second-place Astros, Texas sought another arm that could be relied on down the stretch. And who is more reliable than Scherzer, a future Hall of Famer who is just one year removed from posting a 2.29 ERA in 145 1/3 innings of work?
Scherzer hasn’t been quite as effective in 2023, but his reputation precedes him. And with Corey Seager, Marcus Semien and Nathan Eovaldi firing on all cylinders, it seemed as good a time as ever to bring in a veteran like Scherzer, even if he’ll cost them a pretty penny going forward.
MORE: Why did the Mets trade Max Scherzer?
With that, here’s a look at just how the deal panned out for both parties:
Max Scherzer trade grades
Mets grade: A
Mets receive: SS/2B/OF Luisangel Acuna
It was always going to be hard for the Mets to “win” this trade. Scherzer’s departure is a clear admission that Steve Cohen and Co. failed in their latest efforts to build a winner. But that already was scrawled on the National League East standings; New York sits in fourth place, a galaxy away from the surging Braves.
This season has been a major-league disappointment for New York and its owner. It was Cohen who poured hundreds of millions into deals for Scherzer, Justin Verlander, Brandon Nimmo, Edwin Diaz, Jeff McNeil and others over the past two offseasons. Scherzer’s contract in particular — three years, $130 million when including a player option for 2024 — looked more and more like an albatross by the day. And although the veteran has plenty of life left in his fastball, his production dwindled over the course of the year. Injuries have long been a concern, too. And Scherzer’s age — he turned 39 earlier in the week — did little to assuage those fears.
The Mets needed an out. They got one courtesy of the Rangers. And they did so while acquiring a highly touted piece of Texas’ farm system.
MORE: What to know about Luisangel Acuna
Acuna was the No. 3 prospect in the Rangers organization, according to MLB Pipeline. And although he might not quite reach the heights of his brother, Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr., a .315/.377/.453 slash line and 42 steals in 84 games in Double-A is nothing to scoff at.
Acuna isn’t just a big name. He’s also an enticing talent, blessed with blazing speed and fielding range that could make him a force at shortstop or in center field. The Athletic’s Keith Law ranked him the No. 58 prospect in baseball earlier in the month, a testament to his growing standing around the league. He’s disciplined at the plate and, although not teeming with the sort of prodigious power his brother has, has shown a penchant for slapping extra-base hits across the yard.
Prospects are magic beans. And there’s no certainty Acuna will make it to the bigs, let alone become an everyday player. But bringing a talented 21-year-old back in exchange for an aging veteran shows the front did well as it continued to look toward the future. That may be enough to keep Mets fans going in the short term.
Rangers grade: A
Rangers receive: RHP Max Scherzer, cash considerations
Looking at the Rangers’ performances this year, you’d be hard-pressed to remember that just one season ago the sky was falling at Globe Life Park. What a difference a year can make, huh?
Seager, Semien, Adolis Garcia, Josh Jung and Jonah Heim have been standouts at the plate. But lineups can only get a team so far. To progress deep into October (or November), a club also needs good starting pitching.
Texas has gotten that in spades in 2023. Eovaldi has been one of baseball’s best pitchers this year (2.69 ERA). Dane Dunning and Jon Gray aren’t too far behind as they’ve helped to form a formidable trio at the top of Texas’ rotation.
MORE: Max Scherzer trade details
Still, with Jacob deGrom injured, Texas had an ace-sized crater at the top of its rotation. That stuff can catch up with a team, if not during the regular season, then in the pressure chamber that is the playoffs.
Scherzer fills that void. He’s a valuable player, even with a contract that pays him a record AAV (at least until Shohei Ohtani inks his deal this winter).
The Mets will pay a big chunk of that pricey contract, about $35 million, to the Rangers, per reports. Texas gets an ace at a slight discount. Not too shabby.
Scherzer might not be the pitcher he once was, but he still has nasty stuff. If he can be close to his best as the year comes to a close, it’ll be worth it for the Rangers. And if not, they still have another season to see just what he can offer.
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