MLB rumors: Cubs pull star off trade market, Yankees-Cardinals trade talk, Rangers secret weapon for Scherzer

Some of the latest MLB rumors involving the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers.

We start our look around the swirling MLB rumors in Texas where the Rangers now hope they can get Max Scherzer back on track.

MLB rumors: A secret weapon waiting for Max Scherzer with Texas Rangers?

With Friday’s blockbuster deal that sent Scherzer from the Big Apple to the Lone Star State, there comes another piece of news that may provide some hope for the three-time Cy Young Award winner to become the true ace for the Rangers.

Waiting for Scherzer to arrive in Texas is pitching coach Mike Maddux, someone with plenty of experience not only with MLB pitchers but with Scherzer especially. During the 2016 and 2017 campaigns, Maddux was the pitching coach for the Washington Nationals, a team with Scherzer as a big part of its rotation.

During those two campaigns, Scherzer was vintage Mad Max, posting a 2.52 ERA/2.77 FIP/0.907 WHIP over 421.1 innings. With an ERA+ of 173 during that stretch, Scherzer was among the most dominating pitchers in MLB.

With Scherzer now in his age-39 season and his numbers up this season in 107.2 innings over 19 starts (4.01 ERA/4.73 FIP/1.189 WHIP), can Maddux once again help unlock the real Mad Max? If so, it would be a huge boost for the Rangers and their chances of advancing deep into the postseason.