The New York Mets officially traded three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer to the Texas Rangers on Saturday, according to multiple media reports.
It was reported earlier in the day that the two teams had agreed to the deal, but Scherzer first needed to give his approval. In order for the trade to get done, the right-hander needed to waive a no-trade clause.
New York will receive middle infield prospect Luisangel Acuna for Scherzer, who turned 39 on Thursday.
Acuna, 21, is the younger brother of the Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acuna and was the No. 3 prospect in the Rangers’ organization prior to the trade, according to MLB Pipeline.
Scherzer is in the second season of a three-year, $130 million deal with New York that he signed as a free agent following the 2021 season.
Scherzer was highly disappointed publicly when the Mets traded closer David Robertson to the Miami Marlins on Thursday night.
“I probably have to have a conversation with our front office,” Scherzer said after Friday’s win over the Washington Nationals. “You’re trading our closer away. A bunch of people are gonna have a conversation with the front office.”
The deal with the Marlins seemed to indicate the Mets weren’t going to load up to make a run at a National League wild-card spot this season. New York is a disappointing 49-54 entering Saturday’s game against Washington.
The first-place Rangers are trying to hold off the defending World Series champion Houston Astros in the American League West.
Scherzer is 9-4 with a 4.01 ERA in 19 starts for New York this season, on pace for his highest ERA since a 4.43 mark with the Detroit Tigers in 2011 when he was only 26.
Scherzer won the AL Cy Young Award in 2013 with Detroit and earned the NL Cy Young in 2016 and 2017 with the Washington Nationals.
He is 210-106 with a 3.15 ERA in 449 career appearances (440 starts) with the Arizona Diamondbacks (2008-09), Tigers (2010-14), Nationals (2015-21), Los Angeles Dodgers (2021) and Mets.
Luisangel Acuna hit .315 with seven homers and 51 RBIs across 84 games at Double-A Frisco this season.
–Field Level Media
