Yankees tried to trade for Max Scherzer but he rejected their overtures

The Yankees wanted to trade for Max Scherzer but he prefers to be moved to the West Coast.

While the New York Yankees were very interested in acquiring Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer in a blockbuster deadline deal, the feeling was clearly not mutual.

Scherzer is in the final year of his deal with the Nationals. With Washington 7.5 games back of the New York Mets in the NL East race, the Nationals know where they stand at the trade deadline. The Nationals are expected to deal their best pitcher, possibly by the end of Wednesday, but the Yankees are a team he was not willing to waive his no-trade clause.

Scherzer will not be on the Nationals by the end of the month, nor will he be on the Yankees either.

New York Yankees had interest in trading for Max Scherzer at the deadline

With New York nine games back of the Boston Red Sox in the AL East standings, the Yankees are probably not going to contend for a division crown this year. Their best shot of making it into the postseason will be as one of the two wild card teams in the AL. New York trails the Oakland Athletics by 2.5 games for the second and final AL Wild Card spot in the final week of July.

With the Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays expected to be two of the five postseason teams this year, the Yankees are duking it out with Oakland, the Seattle Mariners and the Toronto Blue Jays for that last precious AL Wild Card spot. If the Yankees were to get a starting pitcher, that might help them keep pace with Oakland. For now, they have to accept Scherzer will not be joining them.

Scherzer’s reluctance to consider the Yankees means he does not think they are real contenders. But his list of preferred destinations centers on the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants. Don’t discount the Red Sox making a play for Scherzer either, but the odds indicate Scherzer is headed west to determine the NL West champs.