Max Scherzer Signing Within Days; 2 Teams Among Reported Frontrunners

 

Talks are starting to heat up for free agent three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer. A report by Jon Heyman says that Scherzer is expected to sign by Wednesday—the day the collective bargaining agreement expires, and a lockout and signing freeze is certain to take effect. 

As Heyman reminds us, Scherzer has stated California as a desired location earlier this year, so a new report by fellow MLB insider Jon Morosi that the ace pitcher is currently in talks with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels certainly aligns with that. 

Max Scherzer is talking with #Angels and #Dodgers, among other teams, sources confirm. @JonHeyman reported earlier that Scherzer is expected to sign by Wednesday. @MLB @MLBNetwork

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 28, 2021

Heyman has also mentioned the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants as being in the mix, with the Mets in particular making a hard push, despite their long odds. 

The Dodgers are clearly a good fit, as Scherzer pitched to a 1.98 ERA and an unblemished 7-0 record in Dodger Blue after they acquired him at the trade deadline along with Trea Turner. He's already familiar with the franchise.

The Angels are just down the highway in Orange County, so signing there would mean that Scherzer wouldn't have to leave L.A., and he could join Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout as a big-name big-three. Trout has been making a big push for Scherzer for some time now. 

The Mets, for their part, have shown an ability to beef up their lineup since Billy Eppler took over as GM. His Black Friday splash landed three quality veterans, in Eduardo Escobar, Starling Marte and Mark Canha. But pitching is certainly top on their agenda now.  

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