The San Diego Padres are close to trading for three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer.
Max Scherzer was the biggest name on the trade block and it now appears the Washington Nationals ace is heading to the San Diego Padres.
Ken Rosenthal reports a deal is close to being done between the Nationals and Padres for the three-time Cy Young Award winner. It became increasingly likely in the past few days that Scherzer would be moved and he would only accept a trade to a team on the West Coast. That left the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants and Padres as the leading candidates. All three are likely playoff teams with a shot at making and winning the World Series.
BREAKING: Padres close to acquiring Max Scherzer, sources tell @TheAthletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 29, 2021
Jon Heyman tweets Scherzer still has veto rights so while the deal is close, he could say no, and open it up to the Dodgers or other candidates to swoop in.
Padres are working hard to try to reach agreement on a Scherzer deal with Nats. They may be in the lead but no sense the Dodgers or others are out yet. Also very important; in the end, while Scherzer will consider these finalists, with full veto rights, he can call the shot.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 29, 2021
Reactions from Nationals fans thanking Scherzer and joyful Padres fans flooded Twitter
The Padres are playing MLB the show franchise mode on rookie with force trades on. Max Scherzer bro... come on they don't need anyone else.#TradeDeadline
— Allan Westerholt (@allanw98) July 29, 2021
MAX SCHERZER IM SCREAMING
— tams (@tammyynunez) July 29, 2021
Thank you for everything Max Scherzer #NATITUDE
— Kyle Koger (@KyleKoger) July 29, 2021
Max scherzer is about to be a padre!!!!!!!! I don’t know what to do AHHHHH
— Asher (@asheremoore) July 29, 2021
https://twitter.com/JoeFinley716/status/1420843457296408577
@Padres as a Red Sox fan, could you guys give us ONE nice thing! First you took @DonOrsillo from us, now you’re on the verge of trading for Max Scherzer! It’s not funny anymore. pic.twitter.com/Y1RN9adwrH
— Ryan Salvaggio (@ryan_salvaggio) July 29, 2021
Dodgers fans are upset about the balance of power being swung toward San Diego
@Dodgers Don't let San Diego Padres get Max Scherzer! The Dodgers should get the Best Person in Trade Deadline. If San Diego Padres does get Max Scherzer it will tip the Balance in NL WEST!
— Eric Olson (@EricOls55596496) July 29, 2021
And then there are some Dodgers fans who think Craig Kimbrel is a bigger need to shore up the back of the bullpen than adding Scherzer.
The @dodgers need Craig Kimbrel and not Max Scherzer.
— Alain Miranda (@alainemiranda) July 29, 2021
Scherzer, 37, is a free agent at the end of the year. He is 7-4 with a 2.83 ERA in 18 starts for the Nationals this year. He started the All-Star Game for the National League earlier this month.
The Padres are 5.5 games back of the Giants in the West but have a 5-game lead for the last Wild Card spot. Adding Scherzer means they are all-in on chasing the first World Series championship in franchise history with Fernando Tatis, Jr., Manny Machado, Yu Darvis and Blake Snell leading the way.