3 last-minute Max Scherzer trades partners Nationals need to get on the phone with right now
By Josh Hill
Max Scherzer is almost certainly going to be traded, and the clock is ticking for the Nationals to find a trade offer they like.
With the MLB Trade Deadline rapidly approaching, there’s a growing sense of pressure for the Washington Nationals to find the best deal for ace Max Scherzer.
His time in Washington is over, but the Nationals hold a potential lottery ticket depending on how close to the wire trade talks get and how desperate the contending teams bidding for his services get to one-up each other.
Washington is in a brilliant position, as the three teams with the most interest in Scherzer are all competing for the National League pennant and are all in the NL West. The Dodgers, Padres, and Giants all also hate each other, so there’s a lot of moving parts to a potential Scherzer deal that could end up making this a jackpot trade for the Nats.
MLB Trade Rumors: Last-minute Max Scherzer deals the Nationals need to make
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers are tricky because they are one of a few teams that might have to trade someone off the 25-man roster to land a big gun at the trade deadline.
Los Angeles has been linked to Minnesota Twins ace Jose Berrios, but it sounds like Dustin May would be needed in the deal to make it happen. May would almost certainly be packaged in a deal that lands the Dodgers Max Scherzer, as Los Angeles doesn’t have a ton of room for creativity with what it can offer.
But as we’ve seen in the past, when the Dodgers have a thirst for a big trade they aren’t afraid to find ways to make it happen.
One factor that could be extra motivation for the Dodgers to make a Scherzer deal happen is the loss of Trevor Bauer. It’s unclear if he’ll return to the team, as the clubhouse is reportedly ready to revolt if he shows his face again. With Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, and David Price in the rotation, adding Scherzer would both fill the void left by Bauer or create a potentially unbeatable rotation of pitchers in the postseason if he returns.
Imagine going from Kershaw to Scherzer, then being able to pitch Buehler and Price to close out a series. That’s what the Dodgers would be trading for and there might not be a price too rich for their blood.
Who Nationals Could Get: Dustin May, at the minimum