Mets add Max Scherzer to continue titanic free agency haul

The Mets turned up the heat on the MLB Hot Stove in recent days but it reached an all-time high on Sunday night as they signed Max Scherzer. 

The New York Mets spent big over Thanksgiving weekend, first landing two terrific utility values in Eduardo Escobar and Mark Canha before they inked a big fish in Starling Marte, the best centerfielder on the free agency. As it turns out, that was only an appetizer.

For the main course, the Mets decided that they would build arguably the greatest 1-2 punch of starting pitchers in baseball, pairing Max Scherzer with ace Jacob DeGrom.

After reports escalated throughout Sunday about New York closing in on Scherzer, they finally agreed to a deal with the 37-year-old who finished third in the NL Cy Young voting this past season.

Scherzer is now leaving Los Angeles to head to the Big Apple on a monster contract.

Max Scherzer contract with Mets: How much is New York paying RHP?

According to reports before the deal was announced, the Mets offered Scherzer a three-year, $126 million contract, which averages out to $42 million per season.

Obviously, for a pitcher who will turn 38 years old in July, there is an inherent risk in New York agreeing to this contract with Scherzer. However, he showed no signs of slowing down throughout last year, save for some injury concerns late in the postseason.

All told over 30 games split between the Nationals and Dodgers, Scherzer had a 2.46 ERA last season with a career-best 0.864 WHIP to his credit. His strikeout rate dipped slightly from 12.3 per nine innings in 2020 to 11.8 in 2021 but he still proved to be an elite pitcher.

If the Mets can keep both Scherzer and DeGrom healthy, they’ll have a dynamic front end of their starting rotation punctuated by their additions in the field. New York will need all that and more to unseat the defending World Series champion Braves in the NL East in the 2022 season.