Next offseason, the New York Mets might have a problem on their hands with another star starting pitcher. After this season, Max Scherzer can opt out of his current contract and become a free agent. The Mets were in the exact same position this offseason with former starter Jacob deGrom. If Scherzer has another great season, knowing his agent Scott Boras, he’ll opt out. It could be déjà vu all over again for the Mets next offseason.
In 2022, Max Scherzer signed a three-year, $130 million contract with the New York Mets. The average annual value of the contract is $43.3 million, which is the highest in MLB history. So far, Scherzer has lived up to that big contract.
Despite missing four months of the season with oblique and side injuries, “Mad Max” had another great year. He finished the 2022 season with an 11-5 record, an ERA of 2.29, 173 strikeouts, and a FIP of 2.62. He we also named All-MLB second team. Also, during the 2022 season, Scherzer accomplished some career milestones as well. He passed Pedro Martinez for 13th all-time in career strikeouts and won his 200th game. He is the only active pitcher along with now teammate Justin Verlander and the Royals’ Zack Greinke to have 200 wins.
They say you never know what can happen when it comes to sports teams and athletes in The Big Apple. This offseason, former teammate Jacob deGrom decided to opt out of his contract and become a free agent. Many assumed that deGrom would re-sign with the Mets. However, in a shocking turn of events, deGrom signed a five-year deal with the Texas Rangers. If a homegrown Met like deGrom can opt out and leave, then so can Scherzer.
Max Scherzer’s agent is the notorious Scott Boras. Boras had Scherzer sign a three-year contract with an opt-out so he could cash in again on the open market. Whenever a Boras client has a great season and there is an opt-out, those guys almost always trigger it. Of the seven players who initiated their opt-out clauses in their contracts, four of them were Boras’s clients. If Scherzer has another great season, it’s almost a given that he’ll be a free agent again next off-season.
Given how great of a pitcher Max Scherzer is and Boras’s history with the opt-outs, this could be a problem. This offseason, both starting pitchers Taijuan Walker and Jacob deGrom opted out of their contracts. Both pitchers are now on other teams. Mets fans may want to take in this season with Max Scherzer for all its worth because he could leave. If a homegrown Met like Jacob deGrom can walk then so could Max Scherzer. This next offseason could be déjà vu all over again for the New York Mets if they’re not careful.
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