New York Mets

Max Scherzer is on the move after reportedly agreeing to a free-agent deal with the New York Mets.

Per Jon Heyman of MLB Network, the Mets will pay Scherzer $130 million over three years. Andy Martino of SNY noted the deal has an opt-out after two seasons.

The average of $43.3 million per season would set a new MLB record, topping Gerrit Cole's mark of $36 million per year.

Scherzer split last season between the Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Dodgers. He was brilliant for both teams. 

The 37-year-old had the lowest ERA of his career (2.46) and led Major League Baseball with a 0.86 WHIP and 6.0 hits allowed per nine innings. 

The Dodgers made the biggest splash prior to the July 30 trade deadline last season when they acquired Scherzer and Trea Turner from the Washington Nationals in exchange for Josiah Gray, Keibert Ruiz, Donovan Casey and Gerardo Carrillo. 

Both Scherzer and Turner were instrumental in Los Angeles' postseason push. The three-time Cy Young winner went 7-0 with a 1.98 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 68.1 innings over 11 starts.

Coming off a 106-win campaign, this is a crucial offseason for the Dodgers. For the first time during their recent run of success, the front office has a number of major roster decisions to make.

Scherzer, Corey Seager, Clayton Kershaw, Chris Taylor and Kenley Jansen are among their notable players eligible for free agency.

Despite being at an age when most pitchers are trying to hang on, Scherzer remains one of the most dominant players in MLB. The eight-time All-Star ranked fifth among pitchers in FanGraphs' wins above replacement (5.4). 

Scherzer seemed like he would be a priority for the franchise. Instead, he will be another ace for the Mets alongside Jacob deGrom in 2022.

Scherzer would upgrade any MLB rotation. He's proved to be one of the most consistently dominant and durable pitchers in an era when starters are throwing fewer innings. 

He is a rare ace who can still throw 200 innings and make 30 starts. The Mets will be the beneficiary of his rare talent in their quest to compete for a championship. 

When Steve Cohen purchased the Mets last year, he said at his introductory press conference it would be "disappointing" if they didn't win a World Series within three to five years.

After New York went 77-85 in 2021, Cohen and the front office are taking steps to get the team to the playoffs.

The Mets have reportedly added Scherzer, Starling Marte, Eduardo Escobar and Mark Canha. They previously locked up shortstop Francisco Lindor with a 10-year, $341 million contract in March.

The addition of Scherzer serves multiple purposes for New York. He will give the rotation some insurance if deGrom deals with injuries, as was the case in the second half of last season. 

A healthy deGrom and Scherzer will give the Mets arguably the best one-two pitching duo in Major League Baseball. The Mets have plenty of question marks behind them, especially if Marcus Stroman signs elsewhere, but two aces provide a great foundation to build a staff around. 

Max Scherzer is close to finalizing a multiyear contract with the New York Mets, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network.

Andy Martino of SNY added the Mets offer includes an average annual value near $42 million, with the team offering either three or four years. Morosi corroborated Martino's tweet, reporting that Steve Cohen's squad offered him a three-year, $120 million deal. 

That comes after Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported the two sides were "making progress" toward a deal. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic added there were "growing indications" that Scherzer will wind up in Queens.

In addition, MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported the Los Angeles Dodgers had grown "pessimistic" about their chances of retaining the three-time Cy Young winner. 

While it was initially believed Scherzer wanted to stay on the West Coast, the New York Post's Greg Joyce noted the Mets could offer him a longer contract and more money to come to Flushing. In addition to the Dodgers, the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Angels had also been linked to the right-hander. 

Scherzer is expected to make his decision before the impending Dec. 1 lockout, per Heyman.

The 37-year-old has been one of the best pitchers in baseball throughout his 14-year career, and his dominance continued in 2021. He posted a 15-4 record with a 2.46 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 236 strikeouts in 179.1 innings. 

Scherzer, who spent six and a half seasons with the Washington Nationals, was sent to the Dodgers at last season's trade deadline. He was a perfect 7-0 in L.A. with a 1.98 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 89 strikeouts in 68.1 innings across 11 starts. 

If the Mets land Scherzer, he'd create a dominant one-two punch on the mound alongside fellow Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom. New York is also expected to deploy Carlos Carrasco and Taijuan Walker in 2022. 

The Mets were also interested in Kevin Gausman before he signed a five-year, $110 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday. 

It has been a busy offseason for the Mets. The team has already signed outfielders Starling Marte and Mark Canha, as well as infielder Eduardo Escobar. There's still plenty of time to make moves before the 2022 season begins, and the Mets appear to be far from finished.  

The free-agent market for Max Scherzer is heating up, with multiple teams pursuing the three-time Cy Young winner. 

Per MLB Network's Jon Heyman, Scherzer is expected to make a decision before the current collective bargaining agreement expires at 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 1, with the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Angels among those in the mix. 

Heyman added the Mets are "aggressively pursuing" Scherzer, but they could turn their attention to Kevin Gausman because Scherzer did show a preference for being on the West Coast during the 2021 season before the Washington Nationals traded him to the Dodgers in July. 

Mets have made a big push to try to land Max Scherzer. They came in as a big underdog and at least appear to be in the ballgame with a big offer. Dodgers, Giants, Angels also have been in. Scherzer mulling. Decision either tonight or early tomorrow.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 29, 2021

Given that Scherzer is 37 years old, there is an expectation he will presumably sign a short-term contract with a high average annual salary. 

Last month, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported Scherzer "seems likely" to re-sign with the Dodgers on a three-year contract worth around $35 million per season. 

When the Nationals were shopping Scherzer prior to the trade deadline, MLB.com's Mark Feinsand noted the right-hander "strongly prefers the West Coast" to waive his no-trade clause. 

The Dodgers wound up making the deal for Scherzer and Trea Turner with Washington. His familiarity with the organization could give them a leg up, but the other teams mentioned by Heyman have the potential to be heavy-hitters in 2022. 

The Giants won the NL West over the Dodgers last season with 107 wins. They have already lost Buster Posey, who retired, and they're still waiting to see what happens with Kris Bryant. 

The Angels would seem desperate to make the playoffs while they still have Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout, two generational talents, in the prime of their respective careers. They already signed Noah Syndergaard to upgrade their rotation, but it's unclear how much of an impact he will have. He threw only two innings late in the regular season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in March 2020. 

Mets owner Steve Cohen has shown a willingness to spend big if he thinks it will help his team compete for a playoff spot. They have already been aggressive this offseason, agreeing to deals with Starling Marte, Eduardo Escobar and Mark Cahna, per MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. 

Scherzer would give the Mets a fantastic one-two punch alongside Jacob deGrom at the top of their rotation. 

Despite his advanced age, Scherzer remains one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball. He finished third in NL Cy Young voting this season after posting a 2.46 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and striking out 236 hitters in 179.1 innings over 30 starts between the Nationals and Dodgers.    

If the New York Mets want to re-sign Javier Baez, they will reportedly need to change their current offer. 

Per SNY's Andy Martino, the Mets and Baez are "apart on price" as the two sides continue to negotiate. 

The Mets have already had an eventful offseason, both for moves they have reportedly agreed to and moves they didn't make. 

Owner Steve Cohen attempted to work through his feelings on Twitter after ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Steven Matz agreed to a four-year, $44 million deal with the St. Louis Cardinals. 

I’m not happy this morning . I’ve never seen such unprofessional behavior exhibited by a player’s agent.I guess words and promises don’t matter.

— Steven Cohen (@StevenACohen2) November 24, 2021

Passan also reported the Mets agreed to a deal with outfielder Mark Cahna. 

On Friday night, MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported the Mets agreed to a four-year, $78 million contract with Starling Marte. Heyman also noted the team reached agreement with Eduardo Escobar on a two-year deal. 

Given all of those moves, Baez could end up being a luxury item for the Mets. They already have Francisco Lindor at shortstop. Escobar is a veteran utilityman who could be in line to start at second base, depending on how the rest of the offseason plays out. 

Baez is attracting a lot of attention from teams in free agency. Heyman reported on Friday that the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox, as well as the Mets, are among the main teams in on the two-time All-Star. 

The Mets acquired Baez from the Chicago Cubs on July 30. He posted a strong .299/.371/.515 slash line with nine homers and 22 RBI in 47 games after the deal.    

The New York Mets are reportedly targeting two of the top starting pitchers available in free agency in Max Scherzer and Kevin Gausman.

According to SNY's Andy Martino, the Mets are "in hard" on Gausman, and the belief is he could sign with a team Saturday or Sunday.

Top free agent starter Max Scherzer is expected to make his decision before the impending Dec. 1 lockout. Dodgers, Giants, Angels, Mets among teams in.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 28, 2021

Mets are aggressively pursuing Max Scherzer. However, considering his known preferences they understand they may need to go to plan B. Scherzer limited field to California as a trade piece and thrived in LA, so Mets know it won’t be easy. Gausman looks like their next option.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 28, 2021

Meanwhile, the Mets have spoken with Scherzer's agent Scott Boras but are reportedly "not overly optimistic" about being able to sign him.

If the Mets do manage to sign 30-year-old Gausman, they'll largely be banking on his one elite season not being an aberration.

Last season with the National League West-winning San Francisco Giants, Gausman went 14-6 with a 2.81 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 227 strikeouts in 192 innings. He set career highs across the board in wins, ERA, WHIP and strikeouts.

As a result of his impressive performance, Gausman was named an All-Star for the first time, and he finished sixth in the NL Cy Young Award voting.

Gausman showed signs of a breakout during the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, as he went 3-3 with a 3.62 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 79 strikeouts in 59.2 innings, which was good for a career-best strikeout rate of 11.9 per nine innings.

In his first seven MLB seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds, Gausman was solid, but he averaged just seven wins per season with a 4.30 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 8.3 strikeout rate.

Gausman would be a good signing for New York if he can maintain his recent level of performance, while Scherzer would be a huge addition in terms of potentially helping to make the Mets playoff and World Series contenders in short order.

Scherzer may not have a ton of time left in his career at 37 years of age, but he is still a top-flight pitcher.

In 30 starts split between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals last season, Scherzer went 15-4 with a 2.46 ERA, NL-best 0.86 WHIP and 236 strikeouts in 179.1 innings.

Scherzer was named an All-Star for the eighth time in his likely Hall of Fame career and finished third in the Cy Young voting, marking his sixth career finish of third or better.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner has 190 career wins, a career ERA of 3.16 and strikes out 10.7 batters per nine innings, although that number has been at or around 12 for the past five seasons.

Perhaps the biggest appeal of Scherzer to the Mets would be the fact that he helped lead the Nationals to a World Series title in 2019, which is something the Mets haven't won since 1986.

New York has already been active in free agency this offseason with the reported signings of outfielders Starling Marte and Mark Canha, as well as infielder Eduardo Escobar.

The Mets have been quiet on the pitching front, however, and undoubtedly need to add at least one starter with Marcus Stroman being a free agent and Noah Syndergaard having already signed with the Los Angeles Angels.

Mets owner Steve Cohen has made it clear he is willing to spend big in order to mold the team into a contender, and landing a starter the caliber of Gausman or Scherzer would be another step in the right direction. 

The New York Mets revitalized their lineup Friday with a trio of free-agent signings—center fielder Starling Marte, left fielder Mark Canha and third baseman Eduardo Escobar.

ESPN's Jeff Passan reported the contract figures for the newest members of the Mets:

• Marte: $78 million over four years

• Canha: $26.5 million over two years

• Escobar: $20 million over two years

The latest additions, at least temporarily, put New York over the Competitive Balance Tax threshold, which is currently placed at $210 million for 2022. The Mets' total payroll expenditures are projected at $230.9 million after the signings, per Spotrac.

That said, with an MLB lockout expected to begin Dec. 1, it's possible the financial outlook is altered when a new collective bargaining agreement is ultimately signed.

Here's a look at how the Mets' batting order could shake out if no further changes are made:

1. Starling Marte (CF)
2. Brandon Nimmo (RF)
   
3. Francisco Lindor (SS)
   
4. Pete Alonso (1B)
   
5. Robinson Cano (2B)
   
6. Mark Canha (LF)
   
7. Eduardo Escobar (3B)
   
8. James McCann (C)

J.D. Davis, Jeff McNeil and Dominic Smith headline the reserves, and they would be thrust into larger roles if the designated hitter is added to the National League on a full-time basis in the new CBA.

The Mets fell short of expectations during the first year of Steve Cohen's ownership tenure. They posted a 77-85 record and finished 11.5 games behind the eventual World Series champion Atlanta Braves in the NL East division race.

A lack of consistent offense was a major reason for that lack of success. They ranked 27th in runs scored (3.93 per game) and 24th in team OPS (.705).

Adding Marte as a tag-team partner for Nimmo atop the lineup should create a lot more traffic on the bases for the middle of the order, and the signings of Canha and Escobar will provide some much-needed depth to the offensive group.

New York may look to add another slugger, especially if the DH is added to the NL, but otherwise, the focus will probably shift to the bullpen and potentially one more starting pitcher before the offseason wraps up.

The New York Mets and outfielder Starling Marte have reportedly reached an agreement on a four-year, $78 million contract, pending a physical.

MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported the deal late Friday night.

Marte is coming off a 2020 campaign where he led the league in stolen bases with 47 while splitting the year between the Miami Marlins and Oakland Athletics. It matched his career high in the category set in 2016 with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The 33-year-old did more than just shine on the basepaths, though. He also posted a .308 batting average and .837 OPS, both the second-highest marks of his career, to go along with 12 home runs across 120 appearances.

"I'm trying to help the team as best I can, in any way I can and I'm going to try and duplicate my numbers as best I can every year and try to get better every single year," Marte told reporters in August.

His resume includes an All-Star appearance in 2016 and back-to-back Gold Glove Awards in 2015 and 2016, all with the Pirates.

Even though he's become known for his speed, racking up 296 career steals, he also owns a rock-solid .796 career OPS along with 126 homers in 10 MLB seasons. His 30.7 WAR since 2012 ranks eighth among all outfielders over that span, per FanGraphs.

So while Marte didn't generate a ton of attention heading into an offseason with a star-studded free-agent class, he could prove to be among the best bangs for the buck moving forward.

The stolen base isn't as prominent within MLB as it was in the past, but in this case, it merely adds to what the Mets are getting from Marte's all-around game since he gets on base at a high rate (.345 career OBP) and doesn't get caught stealing frequently (just five times in 2021).

Marte should slot in as New York's starting center fielder and leadoff hitter to open the 2022 season to help lengthen a lineup that ranked 27th in runs scored last season.

It appears Marcus Stroman and the New York Mets will be going their separate ways this winter. 

The veteran free agent tweeted Friday that the Mets' front office would prefer to sign other pitchers available on the market than come to terms with him on a new deal. 

https://twitter.com/STR0/status/1464440811450298373

Stroman's comments come after MLB Network's Jon Morosi confirmed a report from Tim Dierkes on Thursday that the Mets were among several teams interested in pursuing the right-hander. 

It's rather surprising to hear that the Mets might not be interested in re-signing Stroman. He has been in New York since coming over in a trade from the Toronto Blue Jays during the 2019 campaign and has been rather successful, even though, 2021 was his first full year with the team after sitting out the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

Mets president Sandy Alderson also said at the end of September that he valued the veteran and was willing to negotiate a new deal.

In addition, after his final start of the 2021 campaign, Stroman addressed the possibility of staying with the Mets, saying, "I'm open to anything. ... At this point in my career, I can't wait to finally be on a team where I know I'm going to be there for longer than a year."

It's unclear what has changed since then. 

Stroman went 10-13 in 2021 with a 3.02 ERA, 1.145 WHIP and 158 strikeouts in 179 innings across 33 starts. It was one of his better seasons in the majors, and his performance has resulted in interest from teams such as the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Angels this offseason. 

The New York native is also drawing interest from the Seattle Mariners, who have had several players recruiting him to the club. 

However, it's not hard to see why the Mets might be passing on Stroman. There are several starters available that have had more accomplished careers, including Clayton Kershaw, Max Scherzer and Zack Greinke. Kevin Gausman and Robbie Ray are also among the free-agent starting pitchers available.  

The New York Mets and All-Star infielder Eduardo Escobar reportedly reached an agreement Friday on a two-year, $20 million contract.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported the terms of the free-agent signing.

Escobar, like numerous MLB players, struggled to replicate his typical production during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. He bounced back nicely in 2021 while splitting the campaign between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Milwaukee Brewers.

The 32-year-old Venezuela native posted a .786 OPS with 28 home runs across 146 appearances to earn his first All-Star selection. His 3.0 WAR was the third-highest figure of his 11-year career, per FanGraphs.

"It's really an indescribable moment just to be able to share the field with so many unbelievable players, as well as my family," Escobar told reporters in July after his All-Star Game appearance. "I think it's an amazing gift for them and myself. After so many years of being in league it's just an unbelievable experience."

He also provides positional versatility having played every spot on the diamond, including pitcher and catcher, at least once at the major league level. Third base (601 games) is his most frequented spot, followed by shortstop (329) and second base (137).

Escobar figures to take over as the Mets' starting third baseman, though the club's infield alignment will depend heavily on how second baseman Robinson Cano does following his return from a season-long suspension for violating MLB's performance-enhancing drug policy.

If Cano, 39, is no longer the impact player he was prior to the suspension, it's possible Escobar could shift over to second base and allow J.D. Davis to start at third.

On the flip side, an infield with a productive Cano alongside Escobar, Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso would have a lot of upside heading into 2021.

The Mets still have some work to do in the offseason, ideally targeting a power-hitting corner outfielder, some bullpen upgrades and possibly one more starting pitcher.

That said, the addition of Escobar provides a nice jump-start to New York's free-agent efforts before MLB heads into an expected lockout beginning Dec. 1.

Free-agent starting pitcher Marcus Stroman reportedly has a long list of suitors this offseason.

MLB Network's Jon Morosi confirmed a report from Tim Dierkes, saying the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, New York Mets and Los Angeles Angels are among the teams interested in pursuing Stroman. Morosi added that the Seattle Mariners should be included in that list.

Stroman established himself as a dependable starter for the New York Mets this past season. He led the team with 10 wins, his first double-digit win season since 2017. The 30-year-old finished the year with a 3.02 ERA and 158 strikeouts in 179 innings pitched for one of the best statistical seasons of his seven-year career.

The Mets have already lost starter Noah Syndergaard and reliever Aaron Loup in free agency. If Stroman were to sign with another team, it would be a big blow to a New York team that lacks rotation depth behind ace Jacob deGrom.

Stroman would be a strong addition to any team's rotation. The Angels, who landed both Syndergaard and Loup, are clearly looking to improve their pitching this offseason. The Giants have also been aggressive in the arms race, re-signing starter Anthony DeSclafani to a three-year deal Monday and finalizing a deal to bring back Alex Wood.

The teams in need of a top starting pitcher have many top options to choose from. In addition to Stroman, this year's free-agent class includes high-profile starters Zack Greinke, Clayton Kershaw, Max Scherzer and Kevin Gausman.