MLB Rumors: Mets trade plans for Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander revealed

New York Mets owner Steve Cohen hinted at selling at the trade deadline if their struggles continued. But would they trade Max Scherzer or Justin Verlander?

Does having the highest payroll in baseball equate to success? So far this season, the New York Mets have shown that that’s not the case. Despite spending a ton of money this offseason, Steve Cohen’s baseball team is well below .500 and is nearly 20 games behind the Atlanta Braves for first place in the NL East, and nearly 10 games back of the final Wild Card spot. Not an ideal situation for the Mets, especially considering they added Justin Verlander, Kodai Senga, David Robertson, and Jose Quintana.

Cohen hinted at a press conference last week that he would be open to selling at the Aug. 1 trade deadline if the team can’t turn it around. If that were the case, some fans and media members speculated if Verlander and Max Scherzer could be options.

According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Mets do not plan on trading either Scherzer or Verlander at the Aug. 1 deadline.

In regards to who the Mets might move, Nightengale mentions outfielders Tommy Pham and Mark Canha, and relief pitchers Brooks Raley and Robertson as potential candidates.

Mets reportedly do not plan on trading Max Scherzer or Justin Verlander

There was the buzz surrounding Scherzer potentially getting traded by the team. MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo reported that Scherzer would be willing to waive his no-trade clause for the right situation.

Scherzer has had some rough starts this season but has rebounded as of late. Through 14 starts this season, Scherzer recorded a 3.87 ERA, a 1.200 WHIP, a 7-2 win-loss record, 85 strikeouts, and 18 walks in 76.2 innings.

As for Verlander, he was signed to a two-year, $86.7 million contract this past winter, supposedly giving the Mets a top-end rotation to contend in the National League. But in spring training, Scherzer suffered a low-grade teres major strain, which held him out until May 4, when he made his Mets debut.

Through 11 starts, Verlander recorded a 3.66 ERA, a 1.188 WHIP, a 3-4 win-loss record, 55 strikeouts, and 16 walks in 64.0 innings.

A lot can change in the next couple of weeks before the deadline, but as of now, Nightengale is saying that Scherzer and Verlander are unlikely to be traded.