Scherzer’s Media Comments: Did Max Break Baseball’s Unwritten Rules?

Prior to his trade from the New York Mets to the Texas Rangers, veteran starting pitcher Max Scherzer had a sit-down with GM Billy Eppler. Then, Scherzer decided to spill the beans to the media. Did he cross the line? 

Something has changed about Max Scherzer. Earlier this season, when he was caught doctoring baseballs and subsequently suspended, he took zero accountability. His demonstrative overreactions only insinuated even further guilt.

Now, the line he’s crossed is even more egregious — have you ever heard of a player divulging confidential information to the media after a closed-door meeting with a GM?

I can’t think of a single instance in my decades of following professional sports closely every, single day. Let’s dive in and take a closer look at this developing situation.

Mets: What exactly did Max Scherzer say to the media about his meeting with Eppler? 

According to a detailed report in The Athletic, Scherzer said (paraphrasing): I talked to Billy and asked if we’re reloading for 2024. He said no, basically our vision now is for 2025-26. 

This was a closed-door meeting between two (supposedly) seasoned professionals. How could Scherzer possibly divulge this privileged information to the media?

Did he consider the fact that Eppler helped make him the highest-paid player in MLB? Over forty-three million dollars this season.

Did Scherzer consider the brotherhood of MLB? What about the unwritten rules that all insiders know? How about simple professionalism, not telling the world what your boss said to you in private?

Max wasn’t done spilling the beans, either.

Furthermore, he added: “‘So the team is not going to be pursuing free agents this offseason or assemble a team that can compete for a World Series next year?’ He [asked Eppler], ‘No, we’re not going to be signing the upper-echelon guys. We’re going to be on the smaller deals within free agency. ‘24 is now looking to be more of a kind of transitory year.’”

Astonishing. This is really ‘inside’ stuff. I am shocked that Max Scherzer discussed this with the press.

Why are Max Scherzer’s comments to the media a problem? 

How could an MLB front office executive ever trust him again?

This guy is a sieve who gives away critical, high-level information.

What about considerations for Mets owner Steve Cohen, who did everything he possibly could to put a winning product on the field in 2023? (The Mets are the highest-paid team in the history of MLB.) Scherzer has no respect for the gentleman who made him the highest-paid player in baseball?

Didn’t Scherzer realize that these comments to the media would send Mets fans into a frenzy? As a big-market team, they expect to seriously compete on a yearly basis. Why would he throw Cohen and Eppler under the bus like this?

I find the entire situation disturbing, honestly. Scherzer has seriously crossed the line.

And what about the fact that he was one of the main reasons the Mets failed this season? Blowing lead after lead after lead, one could argue that this was some of the worst pitching of Scherzer’s storied MLB career.

Highest-paid player in the game. Poor performance. And he spills the ‘inside’ beans to the media?

I no longer have any respect for Max Scherzer. This entire situation should significantly damage his already-poor reputation.

John Frascella is a published baseball author who has been covering MLB for 19 years. Follow him on Twitter @LegendSports7 for all things Mets, MLB, NFL and NBA throughout the year.